This video explains how we compare the boiling points of alkanes. First, we quickly refresh on what an alkane is. An alkane is an unsaturated hydrocarbon meaning that it consists of hydrogen atoms and carbon atoms, and that it contains no double or triple bonds since it is "saturated" with hydrogens.

Next, the intermolecular forces (IMF) that exist in alkanes is discussed since it is what needs to be broken to have that alkane boil. Alkanes only experience London dispersion forces (LDF) so an alkane with more LDF's has a higher boiling point than one that has less LDF's.

Finally, we discuss the three rules that tell us which alkanes have more LDF's and therefore have a higher boiling point, and an example is solved.

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