WHICH HAS THE HIGHER BOILING POINT PENTANE OR HEPTANE
Heptane has the higher b.p. because of intermolecular forces.
Pentane (C5H12) has a lower boiling point compared to heptane (C7H16). The boiling points of organic compounds generally increase as the size and molecular weight of the molecules increase.
To determine which compound, pentane (C5H12) or heptane (C7H16), has a higher boiling point, we need to consider the molecular structure and intermolecular forces involved.
Boiling point is primarily determined by the strength of intermolecular forces. The stronger the forces, the higher the boiling point.
Heptane has a larger number of carbon atoms than pentane, which means it has a larger molecular size and more surface area for intermolecular interactions. Therefore, heptane molecules experience stronger dispersion forces compared to pentane.
Dispersion forces, also known as London forces, are the weakest intermolecular forces. They occur due to temporary fluctuations in electron distribution within a molecule, resulting in temporary partial charges. These temporary charges induce similar charges in neighboring molecules, creating a weak attraction between them.
Since heptane has greater dispersion forces due to its larger molecular size, it has a higher boiling point compared to pentane.
To get the answer to this question, you can compare their boiling points experimentally. However, if you don't have access to experimental data, you can rely on the general trend that as the molecular size and surface area increase, the boiling point tends to increase as well.