Question

rank these liquids by their expected surface tension.
rank from greatest to least surface tension. to rank items as equivalent, overlap them.
view available hint(s)
reset help
ch3ch2ch2-oh ho-ch2chch2-oh ch3chch2-oh ch3ch2och3
oh oh
greatest least
the correct ranking cannot be determined.
submit

Explanation:

Surface tension is related to the strength of intermolecular forces. Hydrogen bonding is a strong intermolecular force. The molecule with more -OH groups (more hydrogen bonding sites) will have higher surface tension. \(HO - CH_2CHCH_2 - OH\) (with two -OH groups) has the most hydrogen bonding. \(CH_3CH_2CH_2 - OH\) has one -OH group. \(CH_3CHCH_2 - OH\) also has one -OH group (but similar in hydrogen - bonding strength to \(CH_3CH_2CH_2 - OH\) as the basic alcohol - group interaction is similar). \(CH_3CH_2OCH_3\) has no -OH groups (only dipole - dipole and London dispersion forces, which are weaker than hydrogen bonding).

Answer:

\(HO - CH_2CHCH_2 - OH>CH_3CH_2CH_2 - OH = CH_3CHCH_2 - OH>CH_3CH_2OCH_3\)