Question

Can eclipsed and staggered conformations of ethane be isolated? Give reason.

Answer 1

Can eclipsed and staggered conformations of ethane be isolated?Give reasons. No, because the difference of energy between these two conformations is very small, so even at room temperature these two interconvert rapidly and hence cannot be isolated.

Answer 2

As shown in the graph representing the energy difference between the eclipsed and staggered conformations of ethane, it can be seen that there is an energy difference of 3 kcal/mol.

However, this energy difference is not created at the room temperature.

The ethane molecules hold sufficient energy to be in constant rotation mode at room temperature.  Thus, isolating any one of the conformations of ethane from the other is not possible at all.