Homework Problems Chapter 2
Homework Problems
Section 2
Exercise 1
Determine all symmetry elements and all unique symmetry operations of the following molecules:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e) bromine tetrafluoride
f) Boric acid
g) Dinitrogen tetroxide
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h)
i)
j)
k)
l)
m)
Answer
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
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i)
j)
k)
l)
m)
Exercise 2
When is a molecule chiral?
a) It has no mirror planes
b) It is has no inversion center
c) It has no principal axis
d) It has no rotation reflections (improper rotations)
Answer
d) It has no rotation reflections (improper rotations)
Exercise 3
If a molecule has a principal axis Cn , and n additional C2 axes standing perpendicular to Cn then it belongs to
a) A dihedral point group
b) A rotational point group
c) A low symmetry point group
d) A high symmetry point group
Answer
a) A dihedral point group
Exercise 4
Which of the following molecules are chiral:
a) CH4
b) CHCl3
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c) HCFClBr
d) HOF
e) BHFCl
Answer
c) HCFClBr
Exercise 5
Determine the point groups of the molecules at [Link]/challenge/[Link] until you feel that you can
determine point groups effortlessly
Section 3
Exercise 1
Can the following matrices be multiplied and if so what is the product matrix?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Answer
a)
b)
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c)
d)
Exercise 2
Determine the irreducible representations for the following orbitals in the point group D2h.
The z axis is defined as the axis of the principal C2 axis. C2’ is defined as the axis rotating around y. σv is defined as the xz
plane.
Answer
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Exercise 3
Determine the matrix representations of the symmetry elements of the following point groups:
a) D2
Define principal C2 axis as the axis running along z. C2’ runs along x.
b) C3
If we define the principal C3 axis running along the z axis:
Answer
a)
b)
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This page titled Homework Problems Chapter 2 is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Kai
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