Diethyl ether has a much higher boiling point than butane despite having a higher molecular weight. Please explain why this is the case making reference to thr molecular structure of both compounds
This is butane (well iso butane), which boils at around 0 degrees Celsius.
A bit more interesting, di ethylether, which boils at 34 degrees.
Two reasons why diethyl ether boils at higher temperatures: first (small contribution) it is heavier than butane!. The more important reason; it has a di-polar moment. Oxygen has the strongest electron negativity, so it will be slightly negatively charged, and the neighboring carbon and (more so) hydrogen atoms will be slightly positive. These charges will attract the molecules to one another, given them a lower tendency to evaporate. This boils at hundred degrees as the dipol effect is a lot stronger:
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