Question 6

Arrange each set of compounds in order of increasing boiling points.

(i) Bromomethane, Bromoform, Chloromethane, Dibromomethane.

(ii) 1-Chloropropane, Isopropyl chloride, 1-Chlorobutane.

Answer

(i)

For alkyl halides containing the same alkyl group, the boiling point increases with an increase in the atomic mass of the halogen atom.

Since the atomic mass of Br is greater than that of Cl, the boiling point of bromomethane is higher than that of chloromethane.

Further, for alkyl halides containing the same alkyl group, the boiling point increases with an increase in the number of halides. Therefore, the boiling point of Dibromomethane is higher than that of chloromethane and bromomethane, but lower than that of bromoform.

Hence, the given set of compounds can be arranged in the order of their increasing boiling points as:

Chloromethane < Bromomethane < Dibromomethane < Bromoform.

(ii)

For alkyl halides containing the same halide, the boiling point increases with an increase in the size of the alkyl group. Thus, the boiling point of 1-chlorobutane is higher than that of isopropyl chloride and 1-chloropropane.

Further, the boiling point decreases with an increase in branching in the chain. Thus, the boiling point of isopropyl alcohol is lower than that of 1-chloropropane.

Hence, the given set of compounds can be arranged in the increasing order of their boiling points as:

Isopropyl chloride < 1-Chloropropane < 1-Chlorobutane