Aldehydes, ketones and carboxylic acids: physical properties

Boiling points

• Aldehydes and ketones have a higher boiling point than alkanes due to permanent dipole to permanent dipole interactions which are stronger than van der Waals forces
• Alcohols have higher boiling points than corresponding aldehydes and ketones as the hydrogen bonding in alcohol molecules are stronger than the dipole-dipole interactions
• Acids have a higher boiling point still as they have pair up to form dimers in which each molecule has two hydrogen bonds

Solubility in water

• Lower aldehydes and ketones form hydrogen bonds between the…