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Boiling Points of Straight-Chain Alkanes

The boiling points of straight-chain alkanes with 5-10 carbon atoms are determined.

All Six as a Single Movie


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1.5 MB
22 seconds

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7 Slides


       
Straight-chain alkanes in the homologous series from pentane to decane are refluxed at atmospheric pressure and the boiling point determined.

Boiling Point of Pentane


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.3 MB
5 seconds

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2 Slides


       
Pentane is refluxed at atmospheric pressure and the boiling point determined.

Boiling Point of Hexane


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.2 MB
3 seconds

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1 Slides


       
Hexane is refluxed at atmospheric pressure and the boiling point determined.

Boiling Point of Heptane


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.2 MB
3 seconds

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1 Slides


       
Heptane is refluxed at atmospheric pressure and the boiling point determined.

Boiling Point of Octane


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.2 MB
3 seconds

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1 Slides


       
Octane is refluxed at atmospheric pressure and the boiling point determined.

Boiling Point of Nonane


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.2 MB
3 seconds

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1 Slides


       
Nonane is refluxed at atmospheric pressure and the boiling point determined.

Boiling Point of Decane


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.2 MB
3 seconds

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1 Slides


       
Decane is refluxed at atmospheric pressure and the boiling point determined.

Discussion
Straight-chain alkanes in the homologous series from pentane to decane are refluxed at atmospheric pressure and the boiling point determined. The boiling point increases with increasing number of carbon atoms. Number of electrons per molecule, molecular polarizability, and contact between chains increases with increasing chain length resulting in greater intermolecular London attractive forces. The data may be plotted to graphically illustrate this trend.


       

Chart:  
  Gary Trammell University of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, IL 62794