In the following the most stable conformation of n-butane is
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Answer
(2) [figure]
Solution
Option (1) is the gauche (skew) form: the two CH3 groups are at 60 and repel each other.
Options (3) and (4) are eclipsed forms with maximum torsional strain; (3), with CH3 eclipsing CH3, is the least stable.
Option (2) is the anti (staggered) form: the two CH3 groups are at 180 , so torsional and steric strain are minimum.
The anti conformation (2) is the most stable.
Answer: (2)