Symmetry operation: movement of an object

(by identity, rotation, reflection, inversion, or combos thereof)

such that after, configuration of that object is
indistinguishable from original

•A symmetry element is an imaginary geometrical entity

– a point, line, or plane – about which a symmetry
operation is performed.
E: Identity Operator - No Change

E
Cn: Rotation About an n-fold axis
 σ: Reflection Through a Mirror Plane

H2O
 i: Inversion Center

(x,y,z) → (-x, -y, -z) around center point

i: Inversion Center
 Sn: Rotation about an Axis,
Followed by Reflection in a Plane ⊥ to that axis
 Successive Operations

Product of two operation is another operation

C3 = 120˚ rotation
C32 = 240˚ rotation
C33 = 360˚ rotation = E
List all Symmetry Elements in NH3
Flow Chart for Assigning Point Groups
Assign NH3 to a Point Group

C3, no C2 ⊥, no σh, 3σv

C3v
 Assign to a Point Group

C3, 3C2 ⊥, σh C2, no C2 ⊥, σh

D3h C2h