chapter 3 question 9

[terdaf]

In ex 9 of chapter 3 in the organic chemistry book it shows a fluoropentane and asks for the unfavorable interactions present. The answer is steric and torsional strain. Could someone explain exactly where and how each is present in this specific molecule?

[404639305]

There is steric strain because the two unbonded C molecule on top are too close together which causes its substituents (2 bulky molecules) to hit each other. There is torsional strain because since the molecule has Carbon single bonds, it can rotate and thus become in the eclipsed conformation and have torsional strain.