The statement which is not true:
(A) Boiling point of ethanol is greater than that of ethoxyethane due to H-bonding
(B) Ethoxyethane is soluble in water due to H-bonding
(C) Ethanol is soluble in water due to H-bonding
(D) Ethoxyethane has nearly the same boiling point as that of butanol
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → D only
Alcohols have an O–H group and form hydrogen bonds with each other and with water. Ethers have no O–H group, so their molecules cannot hydrogen bond with each other, but the ether oxygen can still accept a hydrogen bond from water. Hence the boiling points of ethers resemble those of alkanes, while their solubility in water is comparable to that of alcohols of the same molecular mass.
(A) Boiling point of ethanol is greater than that of ethoxyethane due to H-bonding — Correct. Ethanol (b.p. 351 K) is hydrogen bonded; ethoxyethane (b.p. 308 K) is not, even though it is heavier.
(B) Ethoxyethane is soluble in water due to H-bonding — Correct. Its oxygen forms hydrogen bonds with water molecules; ethoxyethane (7.5 g per 100 mL) and butan-1-ol (9 g per 100 mL) dissolve to almost the same extent.
(C) Ethanol is soluble in water due to H-bonding — Correct. Ethanol is miscible with water in all proportions.
(D) Ethoxyethane has nearly the same boiling point as that of butanol — Incorrect. Both have molar mass 74 g mol−1, but butan-1-ol boils at about 390 K and ethoxyethane at about 308 K (close to pentane, 309 K), because only the alcohol is hydrogen bonded.
NCERT (2026-27 edition):
Summary – “… The boiling points of ethers resemble those of alkanes while their solubility is comparable to those of alcohols having same molecular mass.”