What happens to the physical properties(solubility/boiling/melting point) as chain length increases, and as functional groups are added onto the chemical compound?

As chain length increases, the boiling/melting point of hydrocarbon compounds increases. This is because whether a compound will change state from liquid to gas (boil) or not, depends upon the intermolecular forces. The weak, but numerous van der waals forces increase and therefore more energy input is required, therefore BP is greater.

AK
Answered by Abbas K. Chemistry tutor

3623 Views

See similar Chemistry A Level tutors

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

Briefly describe the nature of three types of intramolecular bonding and two types of intermolecular bonding (drawings encouraged)


What is the difference between ionic and metallic bonding?


What is the acid dissociation constant, Ka of the 0.150 mol dm–3 solution of weak acid HA with pH of 2.34?


Draw the mechanism for the reaction of an acid chloride with an alcohol to form an ester


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning