This Study Mind Tutorial covers the following specification points:

Edexcel: 2.20, 2.21 (i-iv)

2.20. understand, in terms of intermolecular forces, physical properties shown by materials, including:

(i) the trends in boiling temperatures of alkanes with increasing chain length

(ii) the effect of branching in the carbon chain on the boiling temperatures of alkanes

(iii) the relatively low volatility (higher boiling temperatures) of alcohols compared to alkanes with a similar number of electrons

(iv) the trends in boiling temperatures of the hydrogen halides, HF to HI

2.21. understand factors that influence the choice of solvents, including:

(i) water, to dissolve some ionic compounds, in terms of the hydration of the ions

(ii) water, to dissolve simple alcohols, in terms of hydrogen bonding

(iii) water, as a poor solvent for compounds (to include polar molecules such as halogenoalkanes), in terms of inability to form hydrogen bonds

(iv) non-aqueous solvents, for compounds that have similar intermolecular forces to those in the solvent