Dihedral angle

Definition

A dihedral angle is the angle between two intersecting planes, which in organic chemistry, often refers to the angle between planes through two sets of three atoms, usually involving a bond between two carbon atoms. In the context of ethane's conformations, it describes the rotational angle around the carbon-carbon bond.

Related terms

Conformational isomerism: Isomerism resulting from rotation around single bonds, where molecules have identical connectivity but differ in spatial orientation.

Newman projection:

A method of visualizing molecules by looking straight down the bond connecting two carbon atoms, useful for understanding different conformations based on dihedral angles.

Torsional strain:

The resistance to twisting about a bond, which in molecules is influenced by the dihedral angles between atoms or groups attached to those bonds