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Hydrogen Bonding in Alcohols: Ethanol and Dimethyl Ether

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Although they both have the same C2H6O chemical formula, dimethyl ether, CH3OCH3, boils at -25C while ethanol, CH3CH2OH boils at 76C. Why?

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Solution Summary

The boiling points of ethanol and methoxymethane show the dramatic effect that the hydrogen bonding has on the stickiness of the ethanol molecules.

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An alcohol is an organic molecule containing an -O-H group.

Any molecule which has a hydrogen atom attached directly to an oxygen or a nitrogen is capable of hydrogen bonding. Such molecules will always have higher boiling points than similarly sized molecules which don't have an -O-H or an -N-H group. The hydrogen bonding makes the molecules "stickier", and more heat is necessary ...

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