Final answer:
Propane (C3H8) has a higher boiling point than ethane (C2H6) because as the size and mass of the alkane molecules increase, so do the London dispersion forces, which are the only intermolecular forces in these nonpolar molecules.
Step-by-step explanation:
The boiling point of hydrocarbons such as alkanes increases with the molecular size and mass. This is because London dispersion forces, which are the only intermolecular forces present in nonpolar molecules like C3H8 (propane) and C2H6 (ethane), become stronger as the size of the molecule increases. Therefore, the statement C3H8 has a higher boiling point than C2H6 is accurate, as propane (C3H8) is a larger molecule than ethane (C2H6). This trend continues with even larger alkanes, such as C4H10 (butane), which have an even higher boiling point due to larger London dispersion forces.
For comparison, polar molecules with a permanent dipole moment experience stronger dipole-dipole interactions than London dispersion forces, leading to a higher boiling point. Aldehydes and alcohols also have higher boiling points due to their functional groups that allow for dipole-dipole interactions and, in the case of alcohols, hydrogen bonding.