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Explain why acetic acid (CH[tex]\(_3\)[/tex]COOH) forms dimers in the gas phase, but ethanol (CH[tex]\(_3\)[/tex]CH[tex]\(_2\)[/tex]OH) does not.

Sagot :

Final answer:

Acetic acid forms dimers in the gas phase through hydrogen bonding, creating a stable structure, while ethanol does not form dimers due to the absence of functional groups for strong intermolecular attractions.


Explanation:

Acetic acid forms dimers in the gas phase due to hydrogen bonding between the oxygen and hydrogen of separate molecules. This bonding creates a more stable structure. On the other hand, ethanol does not form dimers as its structure lacks the necessary functional groups for strong intermolecular attractions like hydrogen bonding.


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