Q. At room temperature the eclipsed and the staggered forms of ethane cannot be isolated because
A) Both the conformers are equally stable
B) They interconvent rapidly
C) There is a large energy barrier of rotation about the $\sigma$-bond
D) The energy difference between the
conformers is large
Explanation
(b)
Staggered and eclipsed conformers cannot be physically separated because the energy difference between them is so small that they most readily interconvent at room temperature
Reviewed by Dr. Abubacker
Physics Educator & NEET/JEE Specialist
Ph.D. in Physics with 19+ years of teaching experience.