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My text book says that branched alkanes are more stable than their straight-chain isomers, but does not give any explanation. Is this merely a fact, or something that can be logically rationalized ?

A thermodynamic cycle is welcomed, and an intuitive clarification is even better.

Ian Bush
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jiande
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  • Maybe thinking in terms of entropy might help? – Nisarg Bhavsar Jan 05 '22 at 09:07
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    See these posts: https://chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/153936/why-is-the-enthalpy-of-formation-of-2-2-dimethylpentane-larger-than-that-of-2-2 ... https://chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/139763/why-are-branched-alkanes-used-as-fuels-instead-of-straight-chain-alkanes ... https://chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/80324/why-the-boiling-and-melting-points-of-n-alkanes-are-higher-than-those-of-iso-or ... https://chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/42426/standard-enthalpy-of-formation-for-branched-alkanes – Nilay Ghosh Jan 05 '22 at 10:02
  • See this also: https://chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/123093/deciding-the-order-of-heat-of-combustion-of-isomeric-alkanes/130811#130811 – user55119 Jan 05 '22 at 15:41
  • More stable in what respect? – Karl Jan 05 '22 at 21:07

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