Question:

Arrange the following in decreasing order of their boiling points

Show Hint

Greater intermolecular hydrogen bonding leads to higher boiling point: \[ \text{Alcohols}\gt \text{1° amines}\gt \text{2° amines}\gt \text{3° amines} \] because tertiary amines lack \(N-H\) bonds.
Updated On: Jun 22, 2026
  • \(a\gt b\gt d\gt c\)
  • \(a\gt c\gt d\gt b\)
  • \(b\gt c\gt d\gt a\)
  • \(c\gt a\gt b\gt d\)
Show Solution
collegedunia
Verified By Collegedunia

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Compare intermolecular hydrogen bonding.
Boiling point mainly depends on the strength of intermolecular forces.
Alcohols contain: \[ -OH \] group which forms very strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding.
Therefore, alcohols generally have the highest boiling points among compounds of comparable molecular masses.
Hence, \[ a \] has the highest boiling point.

Step 2: Compare primary, secondary and tertiary amines.
Primary amines contain two hydrogen atoms attached to nitrogen: \[ RNH_2 \] Hence, they show maximum intermolecular hydrogen bonding among amines.
Secondary amines: \[ R_2NH \] contain only one hydrogen attached to nitrogen, so hydrogen bonding is less than primary amines.
Tertiary amines: \[ R_3N \] have no hydrogen attached to nitrogen and therefore cannot form intermolecular hydrogen bonding effectively.
Thus, their boiling point is the lowest among the three.

Step 3: Arrange in decreasing order.
Therefore, the boiling point order is: \[ \text{Alcohol}\gt \text{Primary amine}\gt \text{Secondary amine}\gt \text{Tertiary amine} \] That is, \[ a\gt b\gt d\gt c \]

Step 4: Final conclusion.
Hence, the decreasing order of boiling points is \[ \boxed{a\gt b\gt d\gt c} \]
Was this answer helpful?
0
0