AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Some factors that affect the stability of the conformers are van der Waals strain, steric strain, torsional strain, and angle strain.

Detailed explanation-2: -In acyclic compounds angle strain does not govern the stability of a conformation.

Detailed explanation-3: -The stability of the compounds depends on the energy of sublimation, the lattice energy and the solvation energy.

Detailed explanation-4: -Staggered conformation of ethane is most stable while eclipsed conformation is least stable because staggered form has the least torsional strain and the eclipsed form has the maximum torsional strain.