Relative Boiling Points
The boiling points of halogen compounds are less easily rationalized.
The number of electrons, their polarizability, and the number of nuclei all
influence the boiling point. Seven halogenated organic compounds are listed
in the following table. They all have similar numbers of electrons (62 to
72) and, except for bromine, similar molecular weights (130 to 142).
However, the number of individual atoms that compose each molecule varies
considerably.
The boiling points of these compounds also vary markedly, ranging from -78
º to 154 ºC. It is instructive to estimate the relative boiling point order
from the structures given, by entering a number in the text box beneath
each compound. As before, 1 is highest boiling &
7 is lowest boiling.