The Probable Length of Hydrocarbon Chains

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Abstract
1. The average distance between the center of the first and last carbon atoms of a freely rotating hydrocarbon has been evaluated as 1.50 1 where 1 is the carbon-carbon distance of 1.54A. This length corresponds to a spherical configuration of a threadlike molecule. 2. A general equation for the Z coordinate of a straight chain hydrocarbon whose rotation is restricted by geometric interferences has been derived. This length is a function of the radius of the hydrogen atoms. 3. The average Z coordinate calculated predicts that the configuration of a hydrocarbon with geometric restrictions on rotation is a statistical one whose length is greater than that calculated by Kuhn, and agrees well with the experimental estimates of Mack.