Question

Ortho-nitrophenol is steam volatile whereas para-nitrophenol is not. This is due to _____.

Answer 1

Intramolecular hydrogen bonding:

1. It is basically a type of hydrogen bonding that is present within the single molecule.
2. It would occur because of the presence of the two functional groups that must be present in a a compound showing the hydrogen bond together.
3. But the stability here is low.
4. There is the presence of Intramolecular hydrogen bonding in Ortho-nitrophenol due to which it is steam volatile whereas Para-nitrophenol is less steam volatile because of the presence of Intermolecular hydrogen bonding as it will cause the association of the molecules.

Ortho-nitrophenol Para-nitrophenol

Therefore, Ortho-nitrophenol is steam volatile whereas para-nitrophenol is not because of the presence of Intramolecular hydrogen bonding.