Question

your group is given a colorless liquid unknown. you measure its boiling point and find it to be 82°c. based on the boiling points provided below, which of the following could be the identity of your unknown?

• acetone: 56°c
• ethanol: 78°c
• tert - butanol: 82°c
• 2 - propanol: 82°c
• water: 100°c

select one:
○ ethanol
○ water
○ tert - butanol or 2 - propanol
○ acetone

Explanation:

Boiling point is a characteristic physical property of a substance. By comparing the measured boiling point of the unknown liquid (\(82^{\circ}C\)) with the given boiling points of different substances (acetone: \(56^{\circ}C\), ethanol: \(78^{\circ}C\), water: \(100^{\circ}C\), 2 - propanol: \(82^{\circ}C\), tert - butanol: \(82^{\circ}C\)), we can identify the unknown. Since both 2 - propanol and tert - butanol have a boiling point of \(82^{\circ}C\), they are the candidates for the identity of the unknown.

Answer:

tert - butanol or 2 - propanol