Concept:Staggered conformation of ethane is more stable due to less torsional strain.
Explanation:In the staggered conformation, the dihedral angle between adjacent
C−H bonds is
60∘.
This keeps the hydrogen atoms as far apart as possible, minimizing electron pair repulsion.
Therefore, the staggered conformation is more stable than the eclipsed conformation.
So, Statement I is true.
Torsional strain is caused by repulsion between bonding electron pairs of
C−H bonds on adjacent carbon atoms.
In the staggered conformation, the
C−H bonds are not aligned with each other.
Hence, torsional strain is minimum in the staggered conformation.
In the eclipsed conformation, the
C−H bonds are directly aligned, causing maximum torsional strain.
Therefore, Statement II is false because torsional strain is not more in the staggered conformation.
Thus, Statement I is true but Statement II is false.
Answer:Option C.