The boiling points of alcohols and phenols increase with an increase in the number of carbon atoms, but in alcohols, boiling points decrease with increased branching due to a decrease in van der Waals forces and surface area.
Explain the trends in boiling points of alcohols and phenols with variations in carbon atoms and branching.
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The boiling points of alcohols and phenols generally increase with an increase in the number of carbon atoms in the molecule due to an increase in van der Waals forces. Larger molecules have more surface area for intermolecular interactions, raising boiling points. However, branching in alcohols can decrease boiling points as it disrupts the regular packing of molecules, reducing surface contact. Phenols, having hydrogen bonding capability, usually exhibit higher boiling points than comparable alcohols. Trends are influenced by molecular weight, molecular shape, and the presence of hydrogen bonding, illustrating the complexity of these factors in determining boiling points.