C5H12, pentane, is a liquid at room temperature. Can we predict from this information whether C4H10, butane, will be a liquid at room temperature? A)Yes, it will be a liquid since pentane is a liquid. B)Yes, it will be a liquid since it contains 4 carbon atoms. C)We cannot be sure unless we find out its boiling point. D)We cannot be sure unless we get the boiling point of propane, C3H8.
Chemistry · High School · Wed Jan 13 2021
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C) We cannot be sure unless we find out its boiling point.
The state of a substance (solid, liquid, or gas) at room temperature depends on both its molecular structure and its boiling point. While the fact that pentane (C5H12) is a liquid at room temperature suggests that it has a boiling point within the range of typical room temperatures, this information alone doesn't provide a definitive answer for butane (C4H10).
Butane may have a different boiling point than pentane due to differences in molecular structure and intermolecular forces. To accurately predict its state at room temperature, knowing the boiling point of butane is essential.