When considering the polarity of biphenyl, benzhydrol, and benzophenone, we can rank these compounds based on their molecular structures and functional groups.
The order of increasing polarity is as follows:
- Biphenyl
- Benzophenone
- Benzhydrol
Explanation:
Biphenyl is a nonpolar compound since it consists of two phenyl rings bonded together without any polar functional groups. As a result, it has very low polarity.
Benzophenone, while still relatively nonpolar due to its phenyl rings, contains a carbonyl (C=O) group that increases its polarity compared to biphenyl. The carbonyl group can engage in dipole-dipole interactions, making it more polar than biphenyl.
Benzhydrol, which has a hydroxyl (–OH) group, is the most polar among the three. The presence of the –OH group allows for hydrogen bonding, significantly increasing the polarity of the molecule.
In conclusion, the increasing order of polarity is biphenyl < benzhydrol < benzophenone.