You can estimate boiling points using a rule of thumb: add about 20°C per carbon atom for simple hydrocarbons. Methane boils at -162°C; ethane at -89°C; propane at -42°C. It’s a rough guide, but it’s better than sniffing the beaker and guessing. For polar compounds, add 50-100°C as a “hydrogen bonding tax.” Oh, and altitude matters—at 10,000 feet, water boils at a pathetic 90°C because air pressure is lower. Your pasta will be sad.
The Surprising Fact: Ionic Liquids
Some compounds—like table salt—don’t even boil; they melt or decompose first. But ionic liquids (salts that stay liquid at room temperature) can boil at over 400°C without exploding. They’re the rebellious teenagers of chemistry: “I’ll boil when I feel like it, Dad.”
