Symmetry Elements and Operations 11723
Symmetry Elements and Operations 11723
Symmetry Elements and Operations 11723
Symmetry Operations
BSc -VI Sem
AE Course (CHB 673)
UNIT-II
Dr Imtiyaz Yousuf
n
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry,
Aligarh Muslim University
Aligarh
1
Symmetry is all around us and is a fundamental property of nature
Definition
A symmetry operation is an operation performed on an object which leaves it in a
configuration that is indistinguishable from, and superimposable on, the original
configuration.
A symmetry operation is carried out with respect to a point, line or a plane, the latter being
called as the symmetry elements
I II III
Rotation of the trigonal planar BF3 molecule through 1200 generates a representation of the structure
that is indistinguishable from the first; one F atom is marked in red simply as a label.
A second 1200 rotation gives another indistinguishable structural representation.
The molecule is rotated along an axis such that after the rotation is performed,
the molecule possesses a configuration which is indistinguishable from that of the
original.
The symmetry operation of rotation about an n-fold axis (the symmetry element)
is denoted by the symbol Cn, in which the angle of rotation is 360/n ; n is an
integer, e.g. 2, 3, 4……
Angle of rotation = 360 /n
If a molecule possesses more than one type of n-axis, the axis of highest value of
n is called the principal axis; it is the axis of highest molecular symmetry
n-fold rotation - a rotation of 360°/n about the Cn axis (n = 1 to )
In water there is a C2 axis so we can perform a 2-fold (180°) rotation to get the identical arrangement
of atoms.
H(3) H(4)
H(2)
120° 120°
N(1) N(1) N(1)
In ammonia there is a C3 axis so we can perform 3-fold (120°) rotations to get identical
arrangement of atoms.
Fig. The 3-fold (C3) and three 2-fold (C2)
axes of symmetry possessed by the
Fig. The H2O molecule possesses one C2 axis and two mirror planes. trigonal planar BF3 molecule
(a) The C2 axis and the plane of symmetry that contains the H2O molecule.
(b) The C2 axis and the plane of symmetry that is perpendicular to the plane
of the H2O molecule.
(c) Planes of symmetry in a molecule are often shown together on one diagram;
this representation for H2O combines diagrams (a) and (b)
NH3 molecule
Fig. Successive C3 rotations in NH3 are distinguished using the notation C3, C32 and C33. The effect of the last
operation is the same as that of the identity operator acting on NH3 in the initial configuration.
The square planar molecule XeF4:
(a) One C2 axis coincides with the principal (C4) axis; the molecule lies in ah plane which contains two C2’ and two
C2’’ axes.
(b) Each of the two v planes contains the C4 axis and one C2’ axis.
(c) Each of the two σd planes contains the C4 axis and one C2’’ axis
2. Plane of symmetry (σn)
Symmetry Operation = Reflection through a plane (mirror plane)
h
If reflection of all parts of a molecule through the centre of the molecule produces an
indistinguishable configuration, the centre is called a ‘centre of symmetry’,
It also called a centre of inversion and id designated by the symbol i.
Each of the molecules CO2 , trans-N2F2 , SF6 and benzene possesses a center of symmetry.
Each point moves through the center of the molecule to a position opposite the original
position and as far from the central point as where it started.
i
[x, y, z] [-x, -y, -z]
Ethane in the
staggered Methane
conformation
4. Improper Axis of Rotation or Rotation-Reflection axis of symmetry, (Sn)
Symmetry Operation = Rotation about an axis followed by reflection through a plane
perpendicular to this axis
If rotation through 360/n about an axis, followed by reflection through a plane perpendicular to
that axis, yields an indistinguishable configuration, the axis is an n-fold rotation–reflection axis,
also called an n-fold improper rotation axis.
Tetrahedral species of the type XY4 (all Y groups must be equivalent) possess three S4 axes, and the
operation of one S4 rotation–reflection in the CH4 molecule