Question

How would you expect the boiling point of methane to compare with the boiling point of water

Answer 1

I would expect the boiling point of methane to be much lower than the boiling point of water. Methane (CH4) is a simple hydrocarbon and consists of only one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. It is a nonpolar molecule with weak van der Waals forces between its molecules. Water (H2O), on the other hand, is a polar molecule with strong hydrogen bonding between its molecules. Hydrogen bonding is a much stronger intermolecular force than van der Waals forces. Consequently, water has a higher boiling point due to the stronger intermolecular attractions.