Which have a higher boiling point between formic acid and formaldehyde and why
Comparison of B.P of Formic Acid and Formaldehyde
a.B.P of Formic Acid (HCOOH): 100.8 °C
b.B.P of Formaldehyde (HCHO): -19 °C
Formic Acid is found in a liquid state while Formaldehyde found in the gaseous form at room temperature and atmospheric pressure.
Formic Acid (HCOOH) has a higher boiling point ( b.p.) than the Formaldehyde (HCHO). This is because of higher molecular weight and stronger hydrogen bonding in the formic acid in its liquid state.
1.Stronger intermolecular Hydrogen bonding
The cause for such behavior is the ability of formic acid molecules to widely associate with each other with intermolecular hydrogen bonding. As an outcome of this, the hydrogen bonds are not broken entirely and persist intact even in the vapor state also. While the intensity of intermolecular hydrogen bonding in formaldehyde is lesser than the formic acid
2. Higher the molecular mass more will be b.p.
The Molecular mass of the Formaldehyde is 30 gm/mole while the molecular weight of the mass of formic acid is 46 gm/mole.
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