Chapter 18, Problem 14TE

Water, ${\text{H}}_2\text{O}$, and methane, ${\text{CH}}_4$, have about the same mass and differ by only one type of atom. Why is the boiling point of water so much higher than that of methane?

To determine

The reason that boiling point of water is much higher than that of methane. The Water, ${\text{H}}_2\text{O}$, and methane, ${\text{CH}}_4$, have about the same mass and differ by only one type of atom

Answer to Problem 14TE

The water molecule has a boiling point higher than that of methane because it contains hydrogen bonding between the molecules.

Explanation of Solution

The water and methane molecules have almost similar masses and they differ just by of one atom.

The boiling point depends upon the forces of interactions present between the molecules of a compound.

In methane, the Van der Waals forces of attractions are present between the molecules. In water, hydrogen bonding is present between the molecules.

The hydrogen bonding is stronger than the Van der Waals forces of attractions. The stronger the interactions, the higher the energy required for breaking them and so higher are the boiling point.

So, water contains boiling point higher than that of methane.

Conclusion:

Therefore, the water molecule has a higher boiling point than that of methane because it contains hydrogen bonding between the molecules