Fundamentals of Organic ChemistryChemistryCarboxylic Acid Derivatives
Arrange the following compounds in order of increasing boiling point: (I) (II) (III)
Options
- A(I) < (III) < (II)
- B(III) < (I) < (II)
- C(II) < (III) < (I)
- D(II) < (I) < (III)
Correct answer
C. (II) < (III) < (I)
Step-by-step solution
The given compounds are: (I) Propanamide (II) Propanoyl chloride (III) Propanoic acid The boiling point of a compound depends on the strength of its intermolecular forces. Propanoyl chloride (II) is a polar molecule but lacks the ability to form intermolecular hydrogen bonds. It only has dipole-dipole interactions, resulting in the lowest boiling point. Propanoic acid (III) can form strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds, often existing as dimers, which significantly raises its boiling point compared to the acid chlo