Axial positions are to chair conformations as __________ is to molecular stability.

Axial positions in a cyclohexane chair are a specific geometric feature that creates steric strain, which in turn lowers the energy of the molecule. In the same way, steric strain is what reduces the overall stability of a molecule. When a molecule is packed tightly, atoms bump into each other, increasing its potential energy and making it less stable. For example, a cyclohexane ring with a bulky group in an axial position feels more strain and is less stable than the same group in the equatorial position, which is more spacious and lower in energy.