The temperature at which a liquid boils is the boiling point of the liquid. The boiling point is an indication of the intermolecular forces that hold the matter in the liquid state. Water, H₂O, boils at 100°C. Ethanol, C₂H₆O boils at 78°C. Ammonia, NH₃, boils at -33°C. Which one of the following ranks the intermolecular forces in these liquids from the strongest to the weakest?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The boiling point of a liquid is directly related to the strength of its intermolecular forces: the higher the boiling point, the stronger the intermolecular forces. Water has the highest boiling point (100°C) indicating the strongest intermolecular forces due to hydrogen bonding. Ethanol, with a boiling point of 78°C, has moderate intermolecular forces, also including hydrogen bonding but less effectively than water. Ammonia, with the lowest boiling point (-33°C), has the weakest intermolecular forces among the three, although it also engages in hydrogen bonding, its molecular structure leads to less effective hydrogen bonding compared to water and ethanol.

The Temperature at Which a Liquid Boils Is the Boiling