Final answer:
The boiling point of hydrogen chloride is not higher than that of water. Water has a higher boiling point because it can form strong hydrogen bonds, unlike hydrogen chloride which has dipole-dipole forces.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the boiling point of hydrogen chloride is higher than that of water because it has a heavier molecular weight is false. While the molecular weight is one factor that affects boiling point, the type of intermolecular forces present in the substance plays a more significant role. In this case, water (H₂O) has a much higher boiling point compared to hydrogen chloride (HCl) because water molecules are capable of forming hydrogen bonds between each other due to the presence of highly electronegative oxygen atoms, which are stronger than the dipole-dipole forces present in HCl. This leads to a higher amount of energy required to separate the water molecules, resulting in a higher boiling point.
The boiling point of water is 100°C, which is significantly higher than the boiling point of hydrogen chloride, which is -85.05°C (or 188.15 K). Despite its lower molecular weight, water's ability to form hydrogen bonds gives it its unusually high boiling point, which is pivotal for sustaining life on Earth.