Question

In general, alkanes adopt their staggered conformations preferentially
to their eclipse conformations in order to minimize what type of
molecular strain?

Accepted Answer

The ethane molecule in the eclipsed conformation is said to suffer
from torsional strain and by a rotation around the carbon carbon bond
to the staggered conformation around 12.5 kJ/mol of torsional energy
is released.

Question #173665

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