Chemistry 1301A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Staggered Conformation, Eclipsed Conformation, Homologous Series
20 Apr 2017
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Chapter 4: structure and shape of organic molecules. The lightest alkanes are gases at 25c while the medium-length alkane chains exist as liquids at the same temperature because we have greater intermolecular forces as we go from a smaller alkane to a bigger alkane. These forces would be dispersion forces because alkanes are non-polar. These isomers have different physical and chemical properties. Molecular formula alone may not indicate structure; it tells you the composition. The more atoms there are, the more possible constitutional isomers. Start with the longest carbon chain and gradually shorten the chain. Newman projections: the molecule is viewed along the c-c axis; bonds are drawn in front of and along the edge of the circle. This convention is usually used for showing conformations. Conformations: short-lived spatial arrangements caused by bond rotations (single bonds only). There are 2 key conformations for alkanes: eclipsed and staggered.
