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Molecular Weight and Boiling Points Explained

The document discusses the physical states and boiling points of various hydrocarbons, explaining that molecular weight and molecular interactions influence these properties. It highlights that 1-pentene is a volatile liquid due to its higher molar mass compared to ethylene, and that cycloalkanes have higher boiling points than alkanes due to stronger molecular interactions. Additionally, it notes that acetylene is more soluble in water than ethane due to its slightly polarized electron density in pi bonds.

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Nina Arciaga
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19 views2 pages

Molecular Weight and Boiling Points Explained

The document discusses the physical states and boiling points of various hydrocarbons, explaining that molecular weight and molecular interactions influence these properties. It highlights that 1-pentene is a volatile liquid due to its higher molar mass compared to ethylene, and that cycloalkanes have higher boiling points than alkanes due to stronger molecular interactions. Additionally, it notes that acetylene is more soluble in water than ethane due to its slightly polarized electron density in pi bonds.

Uploaded by

Nina Arciaga
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

a. At room temperature, ethylene is a gas; 1-pentene is a volatile liquid.

This phenomenon is explained by the concept of molecular weight. As the molecular weight
increases, the attractions also increases and the physical states of molecules changes. Thus, 1-
pentene, having higher molar mass than ethylene, exists as volatile liquid.

The idea of molecular weight provides an explanation for this phenomenon. The physical states
of molecules change as molecular weight rises, increasing the attraction as well. As a result, 1-
pentene, which has a larger molar mass than ethylene, is a volatile liquid.

b. The normal boiling point of 1-pentyne is 40.2oC; that of n-pentane is 36.1oC.

Since the pi bonds in the triple bond of alkyne are more polarizable than alkane and hence, due
to more interactions, the alkyne is having higher boiling points than alkane with the same carbon
atoms.

The triple bond of an alkyne has more polarizable pi bonds than an alkane, which results in
stronger interactions and higher boiling points for the alkyne than for the alkane with the same
number of carbon atoms.

c. Cycloalkanes have slightly higher boiling points than their acyclic normal alkane
counterparts.

Since cycloalkanes molecules are closely packed, the molecular interactions are much stronger
than that of hexane. Thus, the energy required to break the bonds and evaporate it is much higher
which is why the cycloalkanes have higher boiling point.

Branching in molecules decreases the surface area which also decreases the attractive force
between individual molecules. As a result, the boiling point decreases which is the case of
acyclic normal alkane

Cycloalkane molecules are packed closely together, thus their molecular interactions are much
stronger than those of alkanes. Since more energy is needed to break the bonds and evaporate it,
cycloalkanes have higher boiling points.

Molecule branching reduces surface area, which also reduces the attraction force between
individual molecules. As a result, the boiling point drops which is the case with acyclic normal
alkane.

d. At a total external pressure of 1 atm, the solubility of acetylene in water is 1.17 g/mL;
that of ethane is 0.062 g/mL.

At an external pressure, acetylene is more soluble than ethane in water since alkyne is having
slightly polarized electron density in pi bonds. Thus, alkynes are more soluble than alkanes.
Due to alkyne's slightly polarized electron density in pi bonds, acetylene is more soluble in water
than ethane under an external pressure. Alkynes are therefore more soluble than alkanes.

Since alkyne has a slightly polarized electron density in pi bonds, acetylene is more soluble in
water under an external pressure than ethane. Alkynes therefore have more solubility than
alkanes.

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