[ostudent]

My textbook considers ethane and states two reasons for increased stability of staggered vs eclipsed conformation.
1. torsional strain, i.e. repulsion btwn electrons on bonds connected to central carbons. (this makes sense overall)
2. bonding molecular orbitals of staggered conformation are more stable.

I can't grasp concept #2. I found a picture that i think should explain it.
Could someone help me process this please?

Thanks, all.

[wildfyr]

Have you researched the term hyperconjugation?