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Physical Properties of Alkanes & Cycloalkanes: Boiling Point

1) Alkanes have higher boiling points as molecular weight increases due to stronger London dispersion forces between larger molecules. Branching decreases boiling points by making molecules more compact. 2) Cycloalkanes have higher boiling points than n-alkanes of similar molecular weight due to their planar, symmetrical shape which maximizes intermolecular forces. 3) Alkanes and cycloalkanes are insoluble in water but soluble in non-polar organic solvents due to their non-polar nature.

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59 views15 pages

Physical Properties of Alkanes & Cycloalkanes: Boiling Point

1) Alkanes have higher boiling points as molecular weight increases due to stronger London dispersion forces between larger molecules. Branching decreases boiling points by making molecules more compact. 2) Cycloalkanes have higher boiling points than n-alkanes of similar molecular weight due to their planar, symmetrical shape which maximizes intermolecular forces. 3) Alkanes and cycloalkanes are insoluble in water but soluble in non-polar organic solvents due to their non-polar nature.

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WanM.Syamim
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Physical properties of alkanes & cycloalkane

Boiling
Point

Physical
state

Solubility

Physical state
At room temperature (25oC) and atmospheric
pressure (1 atm), for unbranched alkanes,
C1 C4 : gases
C5 C17 : liquids
C18 - more : solids

Boiling points
The boiling points of the straight
alkanes show a regular increase with
increasing molecular weight.
Branching of the alkanes chain, lower
the boiling point.

Mr boiling point
VIDEO3

C-H is non polar bond


Intermolecular forces exist London
dispersion
The London dispersion forces increase :
As molecular weight increases,
Molecular size increases
Molecular surface area increase
Therefore, more energy is required to
separate molecules from one another
Result - a higher boiling point.

Mr boiling point

Chain branching :
makes a molecule more compact
Surface area reduces
The strength of the London
dispersion forces reduce
Lower boiling points.

VIDEO4

Isomeric Alkanes
Have different boiling point due to branching
Pentane

2-methylbutane

CH3CH2CH2CH2CH3

CH3CHCH2CH3
CH3

2,2dimethylpropane
CH3
CH3CCH3
CH3

37 C
o

28.5oC

9oC

For example, butane and 2-methylpropane


both have a molecular formula C4H10, but the
atoms are arranged differently
CH3CH2CH2CH3

butane

CH3CH2CH2CH3

CH3CHCH3
CH3

CH3CHCH3

2-methylpropane

CH3

In butane the C atoms are arranged in a


single chain, but 2-methylpropane is a
shorter chain with a branch

Name

Molecular structure

Boiling point

Butane has a higher boiling point because the dispersion


forces are greater.
The molecules are longer (and so set up bigger temporary
dipoles) and can lie closer together than the shorter, fatter
2-methylpropane molecules.

Cycloalkanes
The boiling points of cycloalkanes are
10oC to 15oC higher than the corresponding
straight chain alkanes.
Cycloalkane
Boiling
alkane
Boiling
point
point
Cyclobutane

13oC

Butane

-0.5oC

Cyclopentane

49oC

Pentane

36.3oC

- Cycloalkane have higher boiling point than


alkane with the same molecular weight or
number of carbon atoms because they are
planar and their shapes are symmetrical
- Thus, the surface area increase, the van
de waals forces become stronger.
- So, higher boiling point.
Cycloalkane > straight chain > branched

alkane

Solubility

Alkanes less dense than water

Alkanes and cycloalkanes are almost


totally insoluble in water
They are non-polar molecule
Unable to form hydrogen bond with
H2O

VIDEO5

Liquid alkanes and cycloalkanes are


soluble in one another, and they
generally dissolve in non-polar
solvents.
Good solvents for alkanes are benzene,
carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, and
other hydrocarbons.

Exercise
The structure of compounds I, II and III are
shown as below.
CH 3 H
CH 3

C
H

C
H
I

CH 3 H

H
CH 3
H

CH 3

CH 3

CH 3CH 2CH 2CH2CH 2CH 33

CH 3

H
II

Arrange them in order of decreasing boiling


point. Explain your answer.

III

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