Question

Account for the following :
- Mixture of 2-nitrophenol and 4-nitrophenol is separated using steam distillation.

Answer 1

2 nitrophenol has intramolecular hydrogen bonding while 4 nitrophenol has intermolecular hydrogen bonding .So 2 nitrophenols have no interaction with other molecules of itself hence has low boiling point.while not same for 4 nitrophenol. due to no interaction between its same molecule it is steamvolatile