Eclipsed and Staggered Conformation of Ethane

Single bonds in the molecules can lead to the so-called internal rotation.

The molecules can then occupy the surrounding space with different spatial arrangements which are called **conformation**. Ethane molecules can be found with two opposite type of **conformations**; the less stable **being the eclipsed form**, in which the atoms are aligned and a stable **staggered form** where the atoms are distributed in space away from each other.