The boiling points, surface tensions, and viscosities of water and several alcohols are as follows:
(a) For ethanol, propanol, and n-butanol the boiling points, surface tensions, and viscosities all increase. What is the reason for this increase? (b) How do you explain the fact that propanol and ethylene glycol have similar molecular weights (60 versus 62 amu), yet the viscosity of ethylene glycol is more than 10 times larger than propanol? (c) How do you explain the fact that water has the highest surface tension but the lowest viscosity?

Question

The boiling points, surface tensions, and viscosities of water and several alcohols are as follows:

(a) For ethanol, propanol, and n-butanol the boiling points, surface tensions, and viscosities all increase. What is the reason for this increase? (b) How do you explain the fact that propanol and ethylene glycol have similar molecular weights (60 versus 62 amu), yet the viscosity of ethylene glycol is more than 10 times larger than propanol? (c) How do you explain the fact that water has the highest surface tension but the lowest viscosity?

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