Alcohols Phenols and EthersmediumMCQ SINGLE

The boiling point of ethanol is significantly higher than that of its functional isomer, dimethyl etAlcohols Phenols and Ethers Chemistry Question

Question

The boiling point of ethanol is significantly higher than that of its functional isomer, dimethyl ether. What is the primary physical reason for this difference?

Answer: C

💡 Solution & Explanation

Ethanol molecules are highly associated through strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding due to the highly polar $O-H$ bond. This requires significantly more thermal energy to separate the molecules compared to dimethyl ether, which lacks an $O-H$ bond and therefore cannot form intermolecular hydrogen bonds with itself.

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