Skip to main content
Chemistry LibreTexts

Conformation

  • Page ID
    39372
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    1. A conformation of an acyclic molecule is a specific disposition of atoms in the molecule in space within the molecule due to free rotation around bonds.

    eg: ethane (CH3CH3)
    Due to free rotation around the carbon-carbon bond, the ethane molecule could assume an infinite number of conformations, two of which are shown below as saw-horse formulas.

    conformation1.png

    In the eclipsed conformation of ethane the smallest dihedral angle is 0º, whereas in the staggered conformation it is 60º, which can be seen more clearly in the respective Newman projection.

    conformation2.png

    In other conformations of ethane the smallest dihedral angle could be any value between 0º and 60º.

    2. A conformation of a cyclic organic molecule is a specific shape the ring could assume.

    eg: Cyclohexane
    Due to the flexibility of the ring, the cyclohexane ring could assume an infinite number of conformations, three of which are given below.

    conformation3.png

    see also conformer, configuration


    This page titled Conformation is shared under a All Rights Reserved (used with permission) license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Gamini Gunawardena via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.

    • Was this article helpful?