"Predicting Trends in Ring Strain of Cycloalkanes"
- Description: In this experiment we will estimate the amount of ring strain in cycloalkanes, and use our estimates to order the molecules from cyclopropane to cyclooctane from most to least strained.
Suggested level: Beginning graduate/advanced undergraduate
Learning objectives: Learn how to build and manipulate molecules; how to optimize molecular geometry; how to compute energy dierences from total energies. Review basic concepts of structure of organic molecules containing sp3-hybridized carbon atoms.