intro to OC p.109 Self-test 3.3B (c)

[704278444]

The question asks: At a research seminar you hear a conversation about nanotechnology and the possibility of using the different rotational states of simple molecules to act like motors. if a butane-like molecule were to be used, would such a molecular motor be feasible at room temperature?
The answer is: No, because at room temperature there is so much thermal motion that it would not be possible to control the different conformational states.
I want to ask that so if we lower the temperature (i.e. a temperature that is much lower than room temperature so there would be less thermal motion) would such a motor be feasible then?

[Chem_Mod]

Yes, there would certainly be some lower temperature at which butane would act like a motor. However, for practicality, butane would probably not be a good choice for that research since it would have to be used under specialized, temperature controlled conditions.