The first views the ethane molecule from the side, with the carbon-carbon bond being horizontal to the viewer. In the staggered conformation there are six equal bond repulsions, four of which are show...The first views the ethane molecule from the side, with the carbon-carbon bond being horizontal to the viewer. In the staggered conformation there are six equal bond repulsions, four of which are shown by the blue arrows, and these are all substantially less severe than the three strongest eclipsed repulsions. Consequently, the potential energy associated with the various conformations of ethane varies with the dihedral angle of the bonds, as shown below.
The first views the ethane molecule from the side, with the carbon-carbon bond being horizontal to the viewer. In the staggered conformation there are six equal bond repulsions, four of which are show...The first views the ethane molecule from the side, with the carbon-carbon bond being horizontal to the viewer. In the staggered conformation there are six equal bond repulsions, four of which are shown by the blue arrows, and these are all substantially less severe than the three strongest eclipsed repulsions. Consequently, the potential energy associated with the various conformations of ethane varies with the dihedral angle of the bonds, as shown below.