Physical Properties of Alcohols

shorter chain alcohols → are volatile liquids at r.t.p

• they have higher melting and boiling points compared to the hydrocarbon with the same number of carbon atoms.

Alcohols Exhibit General Trend in Physical Properties

• solubility of alcohol decreases down the homologous series as the carbon chain increases in length
• melting and boiling points of alcohols increase down the homologous series. as the molecular size increases, the intermolecular forces of attraction increases.

Alcohol	Physical State	Solubility in Water	Boiling Point / $°C$
Methanol	Liquid	Very Soluble	65
Ethanol	Liquid	Very Soluble	78
Propanol	Liquid	Soluble	97
Butanol	Liquid	Slightly Soluble	118

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