Question

Diethyl ether has a boiling point of 34.5C, and 1-butanol has a boiling point of 117C. Both of these compounds have the same numbers and types of atoms. Explain the difference in their boiling points.

The answer I found was that: only 1-butanol can form hydrogen bonds.

But I still don't get why that's the answer.

Answer 1

That is part of the answer, the other part is that diethyl ether is a symettrical molecule, with no net dipole formed.

Hydrogen bonds make for strong intermolecular bonds, which take greater energy to break apart a molecule for it to transition to the vapor state.

Answer 2

Thank you for the help