Physical Properties of Organic Compounds (Alkanes, Alkenes, Alkynes)

PHYSICAL ALKANES ALKENES ALKYNES

PROPERTIES
Colour Colourless Colourless Colourless
Odour Odourless * Odourless (except ethylene or ethene which Odourless (except acetylene)
has faint sweet smell)
Physical States * First four members are gases * First three members are gases (ethylene, * First three members are gases
* Next thirteen (C5 to C17) are liquids propylene, butylene) * Next eight are liquids
* Higher alkanes are solid. * Next fourteen members are liquids (C5 to C18) * Higher ones are solid
* Other higher members are solid
Density * All alkanes are less dense than water
* Density increases with molar mass. __________________ __________________
* Higher alkanes are solid.
Polarity * Almost Non-polar (due to difference in * Cis-2-butene is polar Trans-2-butene is non- * Acetylene is non-polar. Other
electronegativity is very small & polar alkynes comparatively more polar.
symmetrical tetrahedral structure) * Soluble in organic solvents like benzene ether
chloroform)
Intermolecular force of * Van der Waal’s forces(short range and
__________________ __________________
attractions very weak)
Solubility * Insoluble in water(non-polar) * Insoluble in water(non-polar) * Insoluble in water(non-polar)
* Soluble in organic solvents like * Soluble in organic solvents like benzene, ether * Soluble in organic solvents like
benzene, ether chloroform) chloroform) benzene, ether chloroform)
* In isomeric alkenes cis alkenes are less soluble
than trans alkenes (trans isomer are more
symmetrical and well packed in crystal lattice)
Boiling point * In normal alkanes, as no. of carbon * b.p. increases with surface area and molecular * Slightly higher than
atom increases surface area increases mass (an increase in molecular mass of 20 to corresponding alkanes and
 molecular mass increases hence b.p. 30 degree is observed of addition of –CH2–) alkenes (more polar)
increases) * Boiling points in isomeric alkenes depends on
* In isomeric alkanes branching IMFO
decreases b.p. (more branching * Cis -but-2-ene have higher boiling points than
decreases surface area and IMFOA) trans but-2-ene (cis isomer has higher dipole
than trans)
Melting point * Melting points depends on * Melting points of trans isomer are higher than * Melting and boiling point
a) IMF cis (trans isomer are more symmetrical and increases with increase in
b) Internal structure (packing of particles well packed in crystal lattice) molecular mass.
in crystal lattice in molecules)
c) n-alkanes with even no. of carbon
atoms have much higher melting points
than next lower n-alkanes with odd no.
of carbon atoms.
Physical properties HALOALKANES HALOARENES
Colour Colourless (bromides and iodides develop colour in light)
_________________
Odour Sweel smell __________________
Physical States Lower members are gases(halomethanes and haloethanes are gases)
__________________
Higher members are liquids and solids
Density Density increases with
a) Increase in no of carbon atoms
b) Increase in no of halogen atoms and increase in no of mass of halogen atoms
__________________
RI > RBr > RCl > RF
a) n-propyl iodide > n-propyl bromide > n-propyl iodide.
b) tetrachloromethane > trichloromethane > dichloromethane.
Intermolecular Force * Van der Waal’s forces (short range and very weak) * Van der Waal’s forces (short range and very weak)
* Dipole-dipole interactions (polar nature of c-x bonds) * Dipole-dipole interactions (polar nature of c-x
bonds)
Solubility Low solubility in water Low solubility in water (weak intermolecular forces
(weak intermolecular forces and do not form H-bond with water) and do not form H-bond with water)

Boiling Point Boiling point increases with For same aryl groups order is
a) Increase in size and mass of halogen atoms and molecules ArI > ArBr > ArCl > ArF.
b) Increase in van der Waal force For a given halogen boiling point increases with
increase in no. of carbon atom. Isomeric
c) Decreases with branching in molecules as surface area decreases.
dichlorobenzene b.p. O >p > m (o-isomer dipole
d) For a given halogen boiling point increases with increase in no. of carbon forces p-isomer zero dipole weak forces)
atom.
e) Decreases with polarity in C-X bonds.
For same alkyl groups order is
RI > RBr > RCl > RF.
For isomeric halide boiling point decreases with branching
E.g. t-butyl bromide > sec-butyl bromide >n-butyl bromide.
For a given halogen
Melting Point * Melting points depends on
a) IMF

b) Internal structure (packing of particles in crystal

l attice in molecules or solid-state packing)
Isomeric dichlorobenzene m. p. P > o > m
__________________
(p-dichlorobenzene is symmetrical and involves
efficient solid-state packing)
Physical Properties Alcohol Phenol Ether
Colour Colourless Colourless a) dimethyl ether and ethyl methyl ether
are gases
b) other members are colourless volatile
liquids.
Odour a) Alcoholic odour (pleasant odour) Phenolic odour (carbolic smell) pleasant odour.
b) Burning taste
Physical States a) Up to C11 liquids Crystalline solids or liquids gases and volatile liquids
b) Higher members waxy solids
Density a) Monohydric alcohol is less than water __________________ __________________
b) Increases with molar mass.
Intermolecular Intermolecular hydrogen bonding (stronger than Intermolecular hydrogen bonding Intermolecular hydrogen bonding (weaker
Force VDF) (weaker than alcohols due to larger than alcohols due to larger aryl group
aryl group)
Solubility __________________ __________________ __________________
Solubility Solubility_______ a) Sparingly soluble in water (non- a) Soluble in water like alcohols
a) Increase with no. of polar -OH groups (high polar large aryl groups) (intermolecular h-bond)
difference of electronegativity of O and H b) P-nitrophenol (intermolecular H- b) Solubility decreases in higher members
atom) bond) is more soluble than o- (higher alkyl group decreases H-bond
E.g sorbitol >glycerol >glycol nitrophenol (intramolecular tendency)
a) Increase with branching in alcohols (for H- bond)
c) ethoxyethane and butane-1ol are
isomeric alcohol order of solubility 3 >2 >1) miscible in water to almost same extent.
b) decreases with increase in size of alkyl groups
(non polar alkyl groups are hydrophobic)
c) decreases with increase in molar mass in
molecules
d) C1 to C3 completely soluble in water.
Boiling Point Boiling point increases with a) Boiling point of phenol higher a) b.p. increases with increase in molecular
a) Increase in no. of carbon atoms (intermolecular H-bond) mass
b) Increase in van der Waal force b) b.p. of phenol is higher than toluene b) b.p. lower than isomeric alcohol (no H-
c) exist in form of associated
bond due to alkyl groups)
 c) Decreases with branching in molecules as molecules (H-bond) c) b.p. order n-pentane > ethoxyethane
surface area decreases. >butan-1-ol.
d) Increase in no. of -OH group Alcohols have
higher boiling points than alkanes, alkyl
halides, aldehydes, ketones and ethers of
comparable molecular mass. Eg.
(Propan-1-ol > propanal >chloroethane >
methoxymethane >n-butane).
Melting Point __________________ __________________ __________________
 Physical properties Aldehydes and ketones Carboxylic acid
Colour _________________ Colourless

Physical States 1.formaldehyde(gas) 1. C1 to C3 (pungent smelling liquids)

2. up to C11 are liquids 2. C4 to C9 (oily liquids with unpleasant smell)
3.C12 onwards solid 3.C10 onwards colourless liquids
Odour 1.benzaldehyde (bitter almonds) 1.Butyric acid (rancid butter)
2.lower ketones (pleasant smelling liquids)
Intermolecular Force Dipole -dipole interaction (polar carbonyl groups) Intermolecular H-bonds (stronger than aldehydes,
ketones and alcohols)
Solubility 1.Up to C4are soluble in water (H-bond with polar carbonyl groups) 1.Up to C4 miscible (H-bond with water)
2. Solubility decreases with molecular mass and size of alkyl groups 2.Solubility decreases with increase in molecular
3. Aromatic aldehydes and ketones are less soluble than aliphatic (larger mass and size of alkyl groups
alkyl group of ketones).
Boiling Points 1. B.p. increases with molar mass 1.B.p. is higher than aldehydes, ketones, alcohols
2. B.p. decreases with branching and alkanes. (Strong H-bond)
3. Alcohol ketone >aldehydes>alkanes (comparable molecular masses) 2. Propanoic acid >butan-2-ol >butanone >
4. Propan-1-ol >acetone > propanal >methoxy methane >n-butane. 2-methyl but-2-ene.
5. Isomeric aldehyde and ketone (ketone has higher boiling point than
aldehydes due to more polar group’s) acetone>propanal.
6. B.p. is lower than alcohol and acids of comparable masses (H-bonds are
stronger than dipole forces)
 Physical Properties Amines
Odour 1. Lower member are gases and ammonical smell
2. Higher members are liquids with fishy smell
Solubility 1. Lower member soluble in water (formation of H-bond)
2. Solubility decreases with increase in molecular mass and size of alkyl groups (hydrophobic in nature)
3.Order of formation of H-bond with water primary amines > sec-amines > t-amines.
Boiling point 1. Pri-amine >sec-amine .t-amines
2. Acids >alcohol > amines > alkanes.