Carbon-carbon single bonds in alkanes are formed by (ซิกมา) overlap of carbon sp3 hybrid orbitals. Rotation is possible around (ซิกมา) bonds because of their cylindrical symmetry, and alkanes therefore exist in a large number of rapidly interconverting conformations. Newman projections make it possible to visualize the spatial consequences of bond rotation by sighting directly along a carbon-carbon bond axis. Not all alkane conformations are equally stable. The staggered conformation because of torsional strain. In general, any alkane is most stable when all its bonds are staggered.
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