Water is a molecule that has a very high boiling point compared to ethanol. Why does water have such a high boiling point compared to a molecule like ethanol, and what are the intermolecular forces that are acting on the water molecules?
Hydrogen bonding is stronger in water than in ethanol. Positive H complements the negative electron pairs in O and, thus, forming a stronger intermolecular force. Water needs higher energy to break those bonds. Hence, water has higher boiling point at same atmospheric pressure than ethanol.