Describe and explain the trend in boiling points in the first four hydrogen halides

HF has the highest boiling point this is followed by HI, then HBr with HCl having the lowest boiling point of the four molecules. This is because HF is able to form Hydrogen bonds whereas the other three molecules are unable to do so because their electronegativity is not large enough to create a sufficient dipole. The boiling point then increases down the group from HCl to HI because the halogens increase in size. This means that the van der waal forces are stronger down the group therefore they require more energy to overcome. The more energy that is required to overcome the intermolecular forces the higher the boiling point.

TM
Answered by Theo M. Chemistry tutor

59584 Views

See similar Chemistry A Level tutors

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

A buffer solution is made with a pH of 5.000. Solid sodium ethanoate, CH3COONa, is added to 400 cm^3 of 0.200 mol dm^–3 ethanoic acid (Ka = 1.75 × 10^–5 mol dm^–3). Calculate the mass of sodium acetate that must be dissolved in the acid to prepare this


Describe and explain the shape and bond angle of ammonia


What is the name of the mechanism where bromoethane is produced from ethene?


If we burn 3 moles of carbon in air (as per the equation), what mass (in grams) of carbon dioxide will be produced? What volume will this gas occupy at standard temperature and pressure?


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