MCAT Question A Day - 4/9/13 - Answer!
Alcohols boil at much higher temperatures than hydrocarbons of the same molecular weight due to
A. hydrogen bonding.
B. branching.
C. polarity.
D. tertiary structures.
The correct answer is (A). Abnormally high boiling points are due to the greater energy needed to break H-bonds that tightly hold molecules together. Light alcohols are miscible also because of H-bonds that link the alcohol molecules to water molecules.
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