Which acid would be expected to have the lowest boiling point?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The boiling point of an acid is influenced by the strength of the intermolecular forces between its molecules. The strength of these forces increases with the size of the molecule and the polarity of its functional groups. Formic acid has the lowest boiling point because it is a small molecule and the hydrogen bonding between its molecules is weak. Acetic, benzoic, oxalic, and stearic acids have higher boiling points because they have larger and more polar functional groups that lead to stronger intermolecular forces.

Which Acid Would Be Expected to Have the Lowest Boiling