Final answer:
The false statement is that brandy can only be made from grape wine; it can be made from other fruits as well. Alcohols have higher boiling points than ethers and alkanes due to hydrogen bonding, and small alcohols are water-soluble for the same reason.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that is NOT true is: 2) brandy can only be made from grape wine. While brandy is traditionally made from fermented grape juice, it can also be produced from other fruits such as apples, pears, and even berries. As for the other statements: 1) alcohol does typically boil at a lower temperature than water due to its lower molecular weight and weaker hydrogen bonding compared to water. 3) Molasses, being a thick syrup, must be diluted before fermentation to facilitate the fermentation process to make rum. 4) A liqueur is indeed characterized by its additional sugar content, making it sweeter and of lower alcohol content than spirits.
Explaining the properties of alcohols further, the reason why alcohols have higher boiling points compared to ethers and alkanes of similar molar masses is due to the presence of the hydroxyl group (-OH) in alcohol molecules, which allows for strong hydrogen bonding. This type of intermolecular force requires more thermal energy to break, leading to higher boiling points. Additionally, alcohols and ethers with four or fewer carbon atoms are soluble in water because they can engage in hydrogen bonding with water molecules, enhancing their solubility. In contrast, alkanes do not have such polar features and therefore are not usually water-soluble.