Answer to Question #228458 in Organic Chemistry for Mis

Question

Which of the following has the highest boiling point?

(a) 2-hexanone                        (b) 2-pentanone          (c) butanoic acid     (d) 3-methyl-2-butanone

and explain why

Answer 1

2-hexanone has a carbon chain length of 6 whereas 2-pentanone has a carbon chain length of 5. 2-hexanone therefore has a higher boiling point than 2-pentanone. Therefore, the descending order of all four of the provided compounds is butanoic acid, 2-hexanone, 2-pentanone then 3-methyl-2-butanone.