How does the boiling point of diethyl ether compare with the boiling point of 1-butanol?

Diethyl ether and 1-butanol have significantly different boiling points due to their molecular structures and the presence of intermolecular forces.

Although both compounds share the same molecular formula ($C_4{H}_{10}O$) and have an identical molecular weight of 74, their boiling points are not the same:1

• Diethyl ether: Has a boiling point of 35 °C (95 °F).1
• 1-butanol: Has a boiling point of 118 °C (244 °F).21

The primary reason for this disparity is that 1-butanol is an alcohol containing a hydroxyl group, which allows its molecules to engage in hydrogen bonding with one another. This strong intermolecular attraction requires more energy to overcome during the transition from a liquid to a gas. In contrast, ether molecules lack this hydroxyl group and cannot form hydrogen bonds with each other, resulting in much weaker intermolecular forces and a significantly lower boiling point.21