Determining Boiling Points from Structure

Order these compounds from lowest to highest boiling point:

Hexane -1

Water -2

NaCl -3

Boiling point = intensive -> from chemical make up

Chemical makeup = structure and bond type

Hexane – C_6H_4

Water – H_2O

 

NaCl:

Na-Cl, this is a salt -> ions make it up -> ionic bonding

Stronger bonds require more energy to break

  • Bond strength: covalent < polar <ionic
  • Boiling point: higher for ionic, low for covalent, middle for polar