What is the significance of a substance's boiling point?

The boiling point of a substance is significant because it marks the temperature at which a liquid transitions into its vapor state. This change occurs when the vapor pressure of the liquid equals the external atmospheric pressure. Understanding boiling points is essential in both laboratory and practical applications; for example, they are used in distillation processes to separate mixtures based on differences in boiling points. Knowing the boiling point helps chemists and engineers design processes that involve heating substances or separating components in mixtures.

The boiling point is also a characteristic physical property of a substance. It can provide insights into intermolecular forces; for instance, substances with strong intermolecular forces typically exhibit higher boiling points. Therefore, by studying boiling points, one can infer important information about the physical and chemical behavior of substances, especially when they are subjected to changes in temperature and pressure.