Final answer:
Ethanol has a higher boiling point than methyl ether because it can form strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds, whereas methyl ether can only participate in weaker van der Waals forces. the answer to the question is a) ethanol.
Step-by-step explanation:
Between ethanol (C₂H₅OH) and methyl ether (CH₃OCH₃), which have the same molar mass, ethanol has a higher boiling point. The reason behind this is that ethanol has the capability to form strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds due to the presence of a hydroxyl group (-OH), which significantly increases its boiling point. Methyl ether, on the other hand, lacks this -OH group and cannot engage in hydrogen bonding. Instead, it can only participate in weaker van der Waals forces, resulting in a lower boiling point.
Ethanol has a higher boiling point than methyl ether because it can form strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds, whereas methyl ether can only participate in weaker van der Waals forces.
Therefore, the answer to the question is a) ethanol.