In: Chemistry
Are there any planes of symmetry in butane in staggered conformation?
A plane of symmetry passes through any molecule like butane ,must have similar atoms and their arrangement on both side of the plane.Such a plane behave like mirror when reflecting the similar atoms on its sides,
In butane ,there exists various conformations like fully eclipsed,partially eclipsed,staggered conformations -gauche or anti.
In eclipsed forms ,the torsional angle betwen the two methyl groups is 0 degree or 120 degree.
In the staggered form ,the torsional angle betwen the two methyl groups is 60 degrees and -60 degree in two gauche forms (chiral C2 point group) and 180 degrees in anti form (achiral C2h point group)
Thus the anti conformer has one horizontal mirror plane of symmetry.()
yes, butane