Place these hydrocarbons in order of decreasing boiling point:
paraffin, C40H82,
propane, C3H8,
heptane, C7H16,
triptane, C7H16(also known as 2,2,3-trimethylbutane), and
hexadecane, C16H34.
The given compounds are alkanes. This means that the formula
is C_nH_2n+2
The general trend for boiling point in alkanes is that the
greater number of carbon atoms, the higher the boiling point. If the alkane is
branched, the branched alkane will have a higher boiling point than the
straight chain.
Taking these into account: propane < heptane <
triptane < hexadecane < paraffin
