Propanol, CH3CH2CH2OH, has a molar mass of 60.1 g/mol and a boiling point of 97.4oC. Use intermolecular forces to explain why propanol has a higher boiling point than butane or acetone.

Answer 1

Boiling points depend upon a number of things. For example, intermolecular forces and molar mass as well as symmetry. Propanol has a molar mass of 61. Butane has a molar mass of 58 while acetone has a molar mass of 46. So I don't think this is a good example of IM forces. The answer to the question, in general, is hydrogen bonding present in propanol BUT notice that you would expect a higher molar mass to have a higher boiling point.