Hydrocarbons - Result Question 4
####4. The correct statement regarding the comparison of staggered and eclipsed conformation of ethane, is
[2016]
(a) The staggered conformation of ethane is less stable than eclipsed conformation, because staggered conformation has torsional strain
(b) The eclipsed conformation of ethane is more stable than staggered conformation, because eclipsed conformation has no torsional strain
(c) The eclipsed conformation of ethane is more stable than staggered conformation even though the eclipsed conformation has torsional strain
(d) The staggered conformation of ethane is more stable than eclipsed conformation, because staggered conformation has no torsional strain.
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Solution:
- (d) In staggered conformation any two hydrogen atoms on adjacent carbon atoms are as far apart as possible, thereby minimising repulsion between the electron clouds of $\sigma$ bonds of two non-bonded $H$-atoms (torsional strain)
Staggered form No torsional strain
Eclipsed form
