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LECTURE 02
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Symmetry in nature
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Human-derived symmetry in architecture
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Other examples
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Mathematical property of proper rotations
Any object with a Cn axis must have either
zero or n perpendicular () C2 axes
Example: pentagon
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Mathematical property of proper rotations
Any object with a Cn axis must have either
zero or n perpendicular () C2 axes
Example: pentagon of arrows
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Molecular Example: staggered ethane
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Molecular Example: staggered ethane
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Operation #3: Reflection ()
A reflection is a transformation
through a mirror plane
exchange of left-right, point moved
perpendicularly through the plane
on the other side
Example: human body
bilateral symmetry (ignoring
details, etc.)
h : horizontal mirror plane is to
the principal axis
v or d : vertical or dihedral mirror
plane is to the principal axis
Linear objects have an infinite
number of mirror planes through
the center line of the of the
object 15
Molecular Example: dichlorobenzene
1,4 dichlorobenzene
Proper rotation axis?
How many?
Mirror planes?
Where? What kind?
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Molecular Example: dichlorobenzene
1,2 dichlorobenzene
Proper rotation axis?
How many?
Mirror planes?
Where? What kind?
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Operation #4: inversion (i)
Inversion is a
transformation where
each atom passes
through a point called a
center of inversion
Mathematically, if the
center of inversion is
defined as the origin of
the object, each point of
the object (x,y,z) is
transformed to (-x,-y,-z)
An object that is
symmetric about a
center of inversion is
looks unchanged after
applying the operation
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Geometric example
1,4 dichlorobenzene
Inversion center?
1,2 dichlorobenzene
Inversion center?
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More general geometries
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Practice - staggered ethane