Question

why secondary alcohols have a lower boiling point than primary alcohols?

Answer 1

there's more steric hindrance that may interfere with hydrogen bonding decreasing the strength of the bond giving them a lower boiling point.

Answer 2

Hey, thanks a lot. But could you elaborate on steric hinderance? What exactly is that? And also would 2-methyl propan-2-ol have a lower boiling point than propan-2-ol because of the same reasons?

Answer 3

yes. steric hindrance meaning the blocking of access to a reactive site by nearby group/ atoms.