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Chapter 3: Problem 19

Account for the following: (a) \(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}\) has abnormally high boiling point. (b) O-nitrophenol is steam volatile.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Water has a high boiling point due to the presence of strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds. O-nitrophenol is steam volatile because the nitro group interferes with the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds, making it easier for the molecules to enter the gas phase.

Step by step solution

01

Explain Water’s Boiling Point

\(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}\) or water has an unusually high boiling point due to the presence of hydrogen bonding. This is a type of dipole-dipole interaction that occurs when a hydrogen atom bonded to a highly electronegative atom (like oxygen) is attracted to another electronegative atom in another molecule.
02

Describe the Structure of Water

In the case of water, each water molecule can form up to four hydrogen bonds; two from the hydrogen atoms to electronegative oxygen atoms in other water molecules, and two from the lone pairs of the oxygen atom to the hydrogen atoms in other water molecules. This unique structure of water molecules and the strong hydrogen bonds between them result in a higher boiling point.
03

Discuss O-nitrophenol’s Volatility

O-nitrophenol is a type of phenol that has a nitro group (-NO2) attached to its molecule. The presence of the nitro group reduces the ability for phenolic OH groups to form intermolecular hydrogen bonds with each other. Therefore, molecules of o-nitrophenol can escape from the liquid to the gas phase more easily, making this compound volatile.
04

Explain the Steam Volatility

Steam volatility refers to the ability of a substance to be carried with steam, even though the substance might have a higher boiling point than the boiling point of water. In case of O-nitrophenol, although intramolecular hydrogen bonding is present between the phenolic OH and the nitro -NO2 group, the intermolecular H-bonds are relatively less, which makes O-nitrophenol steam volatile.

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