Question

Briefly explain interms of intermolecular force why methanol boils faster than ethanol. Even though they both have hydroxyl group(OH group).

Answer 1

Methanol boils faster than ethanol because it has weaker intermolecular forces. Methanol has a smaller and less complex molecular structure compared to ethanol, leading to weaker hydrogen bonding interactions between methanol molecules. As a result, less energy is required to break these intermolecular forces, allowing methanol to boil at a lower temperature than ethanol.