12.3 Arrange the following compounds in increasing order of their boiling points.
CH3CHO, CH3CH2OH, CH3OCH3, CH3CH2CH3


The molecular masses of the given compounds are in the range 44 to 46. CH3CH2OH undergoes extensive intermolecular H-bonding, resulting in the association of molecules. Therefore, it has the highest boiling point. CH3CHO is more polar than CH3OCH3 and so CH3CHO has stronger intermolecular dipole − dipole attraction than CH3OCH3 CH3CH2CH3 has only weak van der Waals force. Thus, the arrangement of the given compounds in the increasing order of their boiling points is given by:

CH3CH2CH3 < CH3OCH3 < CH3CHO < CH3CH2OH