1.

Molecular Symmetry (Point Group)

Read Cotton Ch 3

Symmetry Operation a movement of a molecule that leaves the molecule apparently unchanged (takes the molecule into an equivalent configuration). ex) rotation, inversion Symmetry Element a point, line, or plane with respect to which symmetry operations are performed.
Symmetry Element Symmetry Operation Identity n-fold Rotation Axis Mirror Plane Center of Inversion n-fold Axis of Improper Rotation Rotation by 2/n (order: n) Reflection Inversion Rotation by 2/n followed by reflection to rot. axis Symbol E Cn

i Sn

Point-group Symmetry Operations Symmetry operations that leave at least one point of the molecule unmoved. cf. space group ( + translational symmetry operations)

Reflection,

v, vertical; h, horizontal; d, dihedral

Inversion, i

C2

Rotation, Cn

or C31

or C31

or C32

In general, for a given Cn, n symmetry operations exist: Cn, Cn2,, Cnn-1, Cnn (= E)

Improper Rotation, Sn

S1 =

However, no C4 , h ! S42 = C2
S2 = i

1 1 4 4 90 3

4 3

3 2 3

2 2

1 Reflection 2

1,3, 5, 7, tetrafluorocyclotetratraene

Sym. elements: E, C2, , Sym. operations: E, C2, ,

Sym. elements: E, C3, , , Sym. operations: E, C31, C32, , , or E, 2C3, 3

Point Group
(1) Compile a list of symmetry elements. (2) Compare it with the list that is characteristic of each point group.

N2

CO

C60

SF6

CCl4

XeF4

NH3

SiBrClFI

Sym. op: E, C2, , Sym. op: E, C31, C32, , , or E, 2C3, 3