(Solved):   (6 pts) Methylcyclohexane has two chair conformations as shown in the figure below: one wi ...

 

(6 pts) Methylcyclohexane has two chair conformations as shown in the figure below: one with the methyl substitute group at the axial position, the other one has the methyl group occupying an equatorial position. At room temperature, we can experimentally measure the ratio between these two conformations is 5.0% : 95.0% by NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy. CH3 CH3 H H methyl group axial methyl group equatorial 5% 95% (a) Calculate the equilibrium constant for this interconversion process between the two chair conformations of methylcyclohexane. (b) Calculate the Gibbs free energy difference between these two conformers. (Specify which one is more stable) (c) Explain why one chair-shaped conformer is more stable than the other. ??