How does increasing chain length alter the melting and boiling temperatures?

For a substance to melt or boil, heat energy must be supplied. This is to overcome Van der Waals forces. As the length of a chain increases, there are more Van der Waals forces present due to the chain getting longer, meaning more energy is required to break the bonds present. This causes the boiling and melting temperatures to increase.

RS
Answered by Rhea S. Chemistry tutor

8791 Views

See similar Chemistry GCSE tutors

Related Chemistry GCSE answers

All answers ▸

What is ionic and covalent bonding?


Given the balanced equation: MgCO3 + 2HCl --> MgCl2 + H2O + CO2, if 5 grams of MgCO3 is used, what volume of CO2 is produced? (molar mass of MgCO3 is 84.3 g/mol)


Why are ionic and covalent bonding different?


Why is Fluorine in the group 7 of the periodic table? Which element, Fluorine or Chlorine, has a higher electronegativity? Explain your answer.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning