Conformations of ethane: staggered and eclipsedएथेन के संरूपण: सांतरित और ग्रसित

NCERT Sec 9.2.4 · interactive diagram

Parts and their functions

• Staggered form (सांतरित रूप) — Looking along the C–C bond, the H atoms of the back carbon sit exactly between those of the front carbon (60° apart). Electron clouds of C–H bonds are farthest apart → least torsional strain, lowest energy, most stable.
• Eclipsed form (ग्रसित रूप) — The back H atoms lie directly behind the front ones (drawn slightly offset so they can be seen). Bond-pair repulsion is maximum → torsional strain, highest energy, least stable.
• Energy difference (ऊर्जा अंतर) — Rotating one CH₃ by 60° switches staggered ↔ eclipsed. The energy difference is only about 12.5 kJ mol⁻¹, so the molecule rotates almost freely at room temperature.
• Why they cannot be separated (पृथक क्यों नहीं होते) — Because the barrier is so small, the conformations change into one another continuously; they cannot be isolated. Infinite intermediate forms (skew) lie between the two extremes.

Original diagram drawn by Simple Learning Hub, based on NCERT Sec 9.2.4. Report a mistake