Question

b) Describe the strongest intermolecular interactions occurring between carboxylic acids and explain how the affects the boiling point of carboxylic acids.

Answer 1

Solution :-

The carboxylic acids have the polar groups that is carbonyl group and hydroxyl group.

The carbonyl oxygen withdraws the electrons from the carbon and makes the carbon electron deficient.

therefore the carbonyl carbon can attract the polar water molecules or the -OH group of the other carboxylic acid molecule

Also the -OH groups of the carboxylic acid can form hydrogen bonds with the water molecules or they can form hydrogen bonds with the other carboxylic acid molecules.

Hydrogen bond is the strongest intermolecular force therfore the boiling points of the carboxylic acids are higher.

Boiling point of the compounds depends on the intermolecular forces.

Stronger the intermolecular force means the higher the boiling point.

Therefore boiling points of the carboxylic acids are higher because of the hydrogen bonding.

following image shows the formation of the hydrogen bonding between the carboxylic acids moelcules.

hydrogen bond 0 O: H