Question

acetone evaporates more quickly than water at room temperature. what can you say about the relative strenth of the intermolecular forces in the tow compounds? which substance is more volatile?

Answer 1

Explanation:

Volatility means the ability of a substance to readily evaporate into the atmosphere.

In water, there is hydrogen bonding which is stronger in nature. As a result, molecules of water are held tightly with each other. So, more heat is required to break these bonds.

Hence, water has higher boiling point than acetone.

Whereas in acetone, molecules are held by weak intermolecular forces. As a result, bonding between the molecules of acetone is weak. So, this bonding can be broken down by slight heating.

As a result, acetone readily evaporates into the atmosphere. Hence, acetone is more volatile than water.