Physical Properties of Alcohols Hydrogen Bonding

The reason for these differences in physical properties is related to the high polarity of the hydroxyl group which, when substituted on a hydrocarbon chain, confers a measure of polar character to the molecule. As a result, there is a significant attraction of one molecule for another that is particularly pronounced in the solid and liquid states. This polar character leads to association 

Exercise 15-2 Explain how hydrogen bonding makes c/ s-cyclopentane-1,2-diol substantially more volatile (bp 119° at 22 mm of Hg) than frans-cyclopentane-1,2-diol (bp 136° at 22 mm of Hg). 

The water solubility of the lower-molecular-weight alcohols is pronounced and is understood readily as the result of hydrogen bonding with water molecules  

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