Question

Given two statements below:
Statement I: o-Nitrophenol is steam volatile due to intermolecular hydrogen bonding.
Statement II: o-Nitrophenol has a high melting point due to hydrogen bonding.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
A. Both Statement I and Statement II are false
B. Statement I is false, but Statement II is true
C. Both Statement I and Statement II are true
D. Statement I is true, but Statement II is false

Answer 1

Hint: o-Nitrophenol is steam volatile because it has unpaired electrons on its ring structure, which can act as nuclei for hydrogen atoms to bond with.

Complete Step by Step Solution:
Hydrogen bonding is a type of chemical bond that occurs between molecules. In this case, hydrogen bonds are formed between the carbonyl carbon atom of o-nitrophenol and the hydroxyl oxygen atom of water. The hydrogen bonds stabilise the structure of o-nitrophenol and make it more stable in water. This allows for easier dissolving in water and makes it volatile, which is why it has a low boiling point of 100 degrees Celsius.

o-Nitrophenol is a molecule with two nitro groups bonded to one phenolic ring, giving rise to its name, o-nitrophenol. The molecule can be found in many natural sources, including plants, animals, and fungi. Humans can also synthesise this molecule through oxidation.
Because of intramolecular hydrogen H-bonding, o-Nitrophenol is steam volatile. However, because of its symmetry, m-Nitrophenol has a higher melting point.
Statement I is true, but Statement II is false will be the correct answer.

Note: The most important characteristic of o-Nitrophenol is its ability to form hydrogen bonds with other molecules, which makes it steam volatile. The hydrogen bonds between o-Nitrophenol and other molecules are strong enough to react with water vapour and break the molecule down into parts.