Answer to Question #166725 in Organic Chemistry for Hafiz Faizal

Question

b) Give a short explanation for each of the following observations: (i) Alcohols with three or fewer carbon atoms are soluble in water. Those with four carbon atoms are sparingly soluble and those with five of more carbon atoms are insoluble in water. (ii) Propanol (Mw = 60) has a higher boiling point than butane (Mw = 58). (iii) The decreasing order of acidity of alcohol is 1° > 2° > 3° (iv) 2-Chloroethanol is more acidic than ethanol. 

Answer 1

Alcohol with lower molecular formula can easyly form hydrogen bond while as the molecular formula increase the hydrogen bond is less effective.

Propanol molecules are held together stronger hydrogen bond while butane molecule are only held by weak intermolecular forces