Explain the difference (organic chemistry question...look inside for details)?

Question

The rancid butter odor of butyric (or butryric) acid is much stronger than the goat-like smell of caproic acid. However, a spill of caproic acid on your clothing would linger longer than the smell of butryric acid and a lot longer than the smell of acetic acid vineger. Explain this diffference. (look at physical properties)

Answer 1

Look at their boiling points - the higher the boiling point (the larger the molecule) the less quickly the acid will evaporate. The smallest molecule will evaporate completely first.

The relevant concept is volatility.