Question

Ethanol has a higher boiling point than dimethyl ether though they have the same molecular weight. This is due to:

• A. resonance
• B. coordinate bonding
• C. hydrogen bonding
• D. ionic bonding

Answer 1

The correct option is C hydrogen bonding

Hydrogen bonding increase the boiling point as here required separation energy is more. In case of ethanol OH is the last so one hydrogen is attached with a very electronegative atom (oxygen) directly. So both oxygen and hydrogen become polar. So hydrogen bonding is possible here, which increase the boiling point of ethanol. In case of dimethyl ether oxygen is not directly attached with the hydrogen so hydrogen bonding is not possible so its boiling point is less than ethanol.

So option C is the correct answer.