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