Question

WHAT ARE THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF ALCOHOLS?

Answer 1

Dear student
1) Solubility in water
Alcohols are soluble in water, due to the hydroxyl group in the alcohol which is able to form hydrogen bonds with water molecules. As the length of the hydrocarbon chain increases, the solubility in water decreases because it requires more energy to overcome the hydrogen bonds between the alcohol molecules as the molecules are more tightly packed together as the size and mass increases.
2) The boiling point of alcohols also increase as the length of hydrocarbon chain increases.
3) Viscosity is the property of a fluid that resists the force tending to cause the fluid to flow. It increases as the size of the molecules increases. This is because the strength of the intermolecular forces increases, holding the molecules more firmly in place.
4) They are polar (positive and negative ions pole).
5) The flammability of alcohols decrease as the size and mass of the molecules increases.
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