Which isomer is more steam volatile ortho nitrophenol or para nitrophenol ?

Ortho isomer shows intramolecular hydrogen bonding , in which the H-bonding takes place in a single molecule not with the adjacent molecule. And in that case the molecules exists as discrete molecules or particles only because they are not attached or attracted by each other.

Thus their boiling point decreases and they are volatile.

But in case of para-nitrophenol the intermolecular hydrogen bonding takes place which allows the adjacent molecules to join and remain in an associated form. And due to this the boiling point of para isomer increases.

Published by Ankush Sharma

I am M.Sc (chemistry ) from Punjabi University Patiala. I am a science teacher with expertise in chemistry, with 8 years of experience in teaching. Writing and blogging is my hobby, I write whenever I am free. I am constantly working on creating a new and easy way of learning the tough things in an effective way. I am constantly working to make authentic and reliable information to be shared with my students and widen the horizons of knowledge.

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