What is a qualitative explanation for order of values of standard entropies of formation for isomers of hexane?

Question

I have literature values for the standard enthalpy and Gibbs energy changes of formation at 298 K, $\Delta H_\text{f}^o$ and $\Delta G_\text{f}^o$, for product in the ideal gas state. Since $G=H-TS$ and by definition, the reactions are carried out at constant temperature I can solve for $\Delta S_\text{f}^o$ via:

$$\Delta S_\text{f}^o=\frac{\Delta H_\text{f}^o-\Delta G_\text{f}^o}{T}$$

I've done this for three hexanes, n-hexane, 2-methylpentane, and 2,3-dimethylbutane. Below are the results:

I guess the sign makes sense to me. It says that all three molecules represent more order than their reactants (C and H2). What is strange to me is the order of the standard entropies of formation. Since these are values in the ideal gas state, entropy effects due to intermolecular forces should not be included, correct? Hence, I would have thought that n-hexane would be the most "ordered" of the three molecules. Surely a linear molecule is less likely (requires higher order) than a branched molecule. What have I missed?

Answer 1

I can't find any references to support this, but I would guess that because the linear molecule is more flexible than the branched molecules it has a higher entropy associated with the number of arrangements of the molecule.

See http://cccbdb.nist.gov/config.asp for some comments on this, though this is just some site I found with Google so caveat emptor.