Which property would be most useful in distinguishing between butan-1-ol and propan-1-ol? (A) Boiling point (B) Colour (C) Conductivity (D) Density - HSC - SSCE Chemistry - Question 6 - 2011 - Paper 1

To determine which property is most useful for distinguishing between butan-1-ol and propan-1-ol, we can analyze each option:

1. Boiling Point: Butan-1-ol has a higher boiling point (approximately 117.7 °C) compared to propan-1-ol (approximately 97.2 °C). This significant difference allows for easy differentiation using a simple boiling point test.

2. Colour: Both butan-1-ol and propan-1-ol are colorless liquids, making colour an ineffective distinguishing property.

3. Conductivity: Alcohols are generally poor conductors of electricity; thus, conductivity would not serve as a useful property for distinguishing these two compounds.

4. Density: While there is a difference in density (butan-1-ol is denser than propan-1-ol), the difference is not as pronounced or easy to measure as boiling point.

Based on the analysis, the most practical and effective property for distinguishing between butan-1-ol and propan-1-ol is the boiling point.