key term - Angle strain

Definition

Angle strain occurs when the bond angles in a molecule, especially in cycloalkanes, deviate from their ideal values, leading to increased instability and reactivity. It is a type of strain energy that affects the stability of cyclic compounds by forcing the bond angles to be either larger or smaller than what is energetically favorable.

Related terms

Cycloalkanes:

Hydrocarbon compounds with one or more rings of carbon atoms, where the ring structure introduces unique strains and reactivity patterns.

Torsional Strain:

A type of strain that occurs when atoms on either side of a single bond are forced into an eclipsed or non-staggered conformation, causing increased electron repulsion.

Steric Strain:

The repulsion force that arises from atoms being forced too close to one another, often leading to less stable molecular conformations