question_answer 99)

  Explain why alcohols and ethers of comparable molecular mass have different boiling points ?

Answer:

                  Alcohols undergo intermolecular H-bonding and hence exist as associated molecules. Ethers, on the other hand, do not have H atom on the 0-atom and hence do not form H-bonds. As a result, ethers exist as discrete molecules which are held only by weak dipole-dipole attractions. Since lesser energy is required to break weak dipole-dipole attractions than to break H-bonds in associated molecules of alcohols, therefore, boiling points of alcohols are much higher than ethers of comparable molecular mass.