In six-carbon rings with only single bonds, carbons have single bonds to two substituents. Whole ring {ring configuration} can look like a chair {chair configuration} or boat {boat configuration}.
If adjacent carbons have one substituent and one hydrogen atom, substituents can both be axial or equatorial {trans, ring} or can be one axial and one equatorial {cis, ring}. Single bonds between carbon atoms allow rotation. Because ring bond rotation must change two single bonds simultaneously, bond rotation cannot change cis to trans, or trans to cis.
Bonds {axial bond} to substituents can point perpendicular to rings.
Bonds {equatorial bond} to substituents can point parallel to rings. Large substituents tend to be equatorial.
5-Chemistry-Organic-Bond Orientation
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Date Modified: 2022.0225