Last Update 30/ 06/ 2000
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The rotation of carbon atoms around single bonds generates conformations in the butane molecule, resembling ethane. In butane the lowest energy conformation is named anti or anti 180o or staggered 180o. The next conformation, named gauche or gauche 60 o or staggered 60o, belongs to a 3.4 kJ mole-1 higher energy level. Next is the eclipsed CH3/H or eclipsed 120o conformation, at an energy level 14.2 kJ mole-1 higher than the anti. The conformation named eclipsed CH3/CH3 or eclipsed methils or eclipsed 0 o takes place. It demands from 18.4 to 25.5 kJ mole-1 more energy than the anti conformation to occur. You can click with the mouse when the cursor is pointing any of the buttons and observe the respective conformation. The blue balls represent the hydrogen atoms bonded to the gray and dark coloured carbon atoms and the red balls represent the methyls bonded each to a different carbon atom. If you push and drag the mouse properly when the cursor is over the green square, you can animate the butane from one conformation to the other.
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