2007-03-14 10:23:44 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
The alcohol you used must have a boiling point below 100 degrees Celsius. If so, it will boil when the temperature reaches the alcohol's boiling point, then the temperature rises until it reaches water's boiling point.
2007-03-14 10:27:13 · answer #1 · answered by physandchemteach 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, the most obvious answer is that it has a lower boiling point than water. The boiling point of ethanol is about 78 C while the b.p. of water is 100 C. The reason for the lower temperature has more to do with the amount of bonding in alcohol than in water. Though both can form hydrogen bonds, water forms more of them than alcohol does and thus is held to other molecules by more force requiring more energy to pull water molecules apart. A few other factors are involved but this is the primary one.
2007-03-14 17:30:43 · answer #2 · answered by docrider28 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In general, alcohols have a weaker intermolecular bond structure than water. Since boiling requires pulling apart the molecules from the liquid state to form a gas, a weaker bond attraction will be pulled apart more easily. Therefore, a lower boiling point.
2007-03-14 17:29:27 · answer #3 · answered by reb1240 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it has a lower boiling point than water does.
2007-03-14 17:27:33 · answer #4 · answered by Stephanie A 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lower surface tension.
BTW, it also has a lower freezing point. That's why it used to be used in some thermometers and even as coolant in cars.
2007-03-14 17:32:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋