I could be getting this mixed up, so could someone please clear up the confusion. I know that increased branching is supposed to weaken Vanderwaals forces. It would make sense that this would decrease the mp since there are weaker intermolecular forces and hence not as high temp should be needed to break these weaker forces in going from solid to liquid. I swear EK says that it decreases bp and increases mp. Can someone confirm, does branching decrease or increase mp?
How is alkane mp affected by branching?
- Thread starter AHH78
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branching decreases mp.
Melting points and boiling points are determined by the intermolecular forces of attraction between molecules in the solid and liquid states, respectively. For nonpolar molecules like alkanes, the main intermolecular forces of attraction are London dispersion forces. London dispersion forces increase with increasing number of carbon atoms and increase with the area of contact between neighbouring molecules. With respect to the latter, the area of contact depends on the shape, decreasing as branching increases in the molecule. Therefore, a straight-chain alkane has a higher boiling point than a branched alkane with the same number of carbons.
For polar compounds such as alcohols, amines, and carbonyl compounds, the important intermolecular forces are dipole-dipole attractions and hydrogen bonding. These generally lead to higher boiling points than for nonpolar molecules.
check out http://www.chembio.uoguelph.ca/educmat/chm19104/org-faq.htm
Melting points and boiling points are determined by the intermolecular forces of attraction between molecules in the solid and liquid states, respectively. For nonpolar molecules like alkanes, the main intermolecular forces of attraction are London dispersion forces. London dispersion forces increase with increasing number of carbon atoms and increase with the area of contact between neighbouring molecules. With respect to the latter, the area of contact depends on the shape, decreasing as branching increases in the molecule. Therefore, a straight-chain alkane has a higher boiling point than a branched alkane with the same number of carbons.
For polar compounds such as alcohols, amines, and carbonyl compounds, the important intermolecular forces are dipole-dipole attractions and hydrogen bonding. These generally lead to higher boiling points than for nonpolar molecules.
check out http://www.chembio.uoguelph.ca/educmat/chm19104/org-faq.htm
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Read this thread:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=111078&highlight=branching+melting+point
If you don't have time, the rule is that the straight chain alkane has the highest MP. After there is some branching, however, the MP increases as branching increases. Therefore, a highly branched alkane has a higher MP than a slightly branched alkane with the same number of carbons. Again, the straight chaine alkane has the highest MP of all.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=111078&highlight=branching+melting+point
If you don't have time, the rule is that the straight chain alkane has the highest MP. After there is some branching, however, the MP increases as branching increases. Therefore, a highly branched alkane has a higher MP than a slightly branched alkane with the same number of carbons. Again, the straight chaine alkane has the highest MP of all.
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