Question

Glycerol boils at a higher temperature than water. What does this indicate about the attractive forces of glycerol?

Answer 1

Answer: Glycerol has more attractive forces as compared to water.

Step-by-step explanation:

Boiling point is the temperature at which vapor pressure of the liquid becomes equal to atmospheric pressure.

Boiling point depends on the strength of inter molecular forces.

The molecules of glycerol
`(HOCH_2CH(OH)CH_2OH)` are more strongly bonded through hydrogen bonds as there are three OH groups.

But in water
`(H_2O)` , only on e OH group is present and thus extent of hydrogen bonding is less.

Thus we can conclude that glycerol has more attractive forces as compared to water.

Answer 2

The chemical formula for glycerol is HOCH2-CH(OH)-CH2OH while that of water is H-OH. The intermolecular forces in both water and glycerol are the strong H-bonds. However, since there are 3 OH groups/ glycerol molecule vs the one -OH group in water enables glycerol to form more H-bonds when compared to water.

The stronger attractive forces in glycerol causes an increase in its boiling point.