Question

Which of the following alcohols has the highest boiling point?

• A. Methanol
• B. 2-Butanol
• C. 1-Butanol
• D. 2- Methyl-2-propanol

Answer 1

The correct option is C 1-Butanol

The boiling point of a hydrocarbon is directly proportional to the following three factors:

1) Extent of intermolecular hydrogen bonding

2) Molecular Mass

3) Surface area of the hydrocarbon

All are alcohols and thus form $H$-bonding. Options (B), (C), and (D) have four $C$ atoms and hence their molecular mass is greater than that of option (A). A straight chain alcohol has higher surface area than branched chain alcohols and since only option (C) is a straight chain molecule, it has the highest boiling point.

Hence correct answer is (C).