Question Detail

CHM 102 Carbonyl Compounds Objective Question

Question

Why do aldehydes and ketones have lower boiling points than alcohols of similar molecular weight?
Options
A They are less polar
B They cannot form intermolecular hydrogen bonds with each other
Correct Answer
C They have weaker London forces
D They are smaller molecules
Correct Answer

Option B is the correct answer.

Detailed Explanation

Alcohols have O-H bonds and can form strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds, while aldehydes and ketones lack O-H bonds and only have dipole-dipole interactions.

Hint

No O-H, no H-bonding between molecules.

Question Info