Draw the two chair conformers for each of the following and indicate which conformer is more stable:
a)cis-1-ethyl-3-methylcyclohexane
b)trans-1-ethyl-2-methylcyclohexane
c)trans-1-ethyl-2-isopropylcyclohex ane
d)cis-1,2-diethylcyclohexane
e)cis-1-ethyl-3-isopropylcyclohexan e
ecis-1-ethyl-4-isopropylcyclohexane

For the drawings, please refer to the attached picture.

Explanation:

Stability of the conformers depends on the location of the groups attached to the main ring. The position of the bulkier (bigger) groups plays the most important role in conformer’s stability. If the conformer contains the bulkier group in the equatorial position, that conformer will be more stable than his twin brother with the bulkier group in the axial position. These are also drawn and attached below.

the answer is b because, investigating whether another species of moth also drinks tears might be interesting, but it would not directly explain why this species of moth does.

to explain why this species of moth drinks tears, the scientist could ask: "what nutrients that moths need are in elephant tears? "

the scientist could experiment with moth repellent or oter ways to keep the moths away, but that would not answer his original question.