(12) Tetrahedral carbon

Question 1

what are the angles between the C-H bonds in methane +

Answer 1

109.5

Question 2

what is the difference between eclipsed and staggered conformation

Answer 2

eclipsed have higher energies than staggered

Question 3

what two factors involved in the conformation strain in a molecule

Answer 3

1) steric effects - electrons within the non-bonded atoms of groups forced into proximity
2) Torsional strain - repulsion between electron pairs in covalent bonds

Question 4

name the two ways that stereo isomers can arise

Answer 4

1) restricted rotation around a double bond

2) chirality

Question 5

describe the geometry of an alkene

Answer 5

all alkenes are made up of two trigonal carbons bonded by a singular sigma bond and a pi bond. This means all 6 atoms lie in the same plane

Question 6

why is there not free rotation around a C=C bond

Answer 6

any rotation woulf break the pi system