We have seen in this chapter that, among isomeric alkanes, the unbranched isomer is the least stable and has the highest boiling point; the most branched isomer is the most stable and has the lowest boiling point. Does this mean that one alkane boils lower than another because it is more stable? Explain.
Hey everyone. So in this question we're going to compare two different structures, we have a branch one and unbranched. Notice that the ones I drew are isomers of the molecular formula C4H10 to just remember that we're dealing with branched and unbranched, which one is going to have the higher stability? the branch one, okay? And then which was going to have the lower stability? the unbranched, okay? Now, despite that also their boiling points are opposites. Now, the branch one is going to have the lower boiling point, this branch is going to decrease the boiling point, so you can take a lower BP this one's going to have higher BP. Now, why is that? do you think it has to do with the molecule that's more stable always have the lower boiling point? Well, first let's talk about the boiling point, so the boiling points have to do with simply the shape of the molecule, so notice that our molecule on the left, our branch one is going to be more spherical than the other, it's going to have this smaller surface area, so we;re going ot say that branching has to do with the smaller surface area, okay? excuse me, the boiling point, okay?