Symmetry operators
COURSE NAME: Solid State Chemistry
COURSE CODE: 4024582-2
Symmetry operations and symmetry elements
Asymmetry 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 points,
lines or planes, which are called symmetry elements.
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There are five essential symmetry operations:
1. Proper rotation: rotation about an n-fold axis of symmetry
2. Identity
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3. Reflection through a plane of symmetry
4. Inversion through a center of symmetry
5. Improper rotation: rotation about an axis followed by a
reflection (real or imagined) perpendicular to that axis
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1. Proper rotation
The rotation operation, symbol Cnx, involves rotating the molecule by 360/n
degrees about an axis, symbol Cn, through the molecule. The value of n
represents the number of times the molecule can be rotated during a
complete 360° rotation while matching the original conformation after each
rotation
Applying this notation to the BF3 molecule
gives a value of n= 3, and therefore we say that
the BF3 molecule contains a C3 rotation axis;
in this case, the axis lies perpendicular to the
plane containing the molecule.
Angle of rotation= 360/n =120˚
In addition, BF3 also contains three 2-fold (C2)
rotation axes, each coincident with a B-F bond
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2. Identity
For H2O, C22 and for BF3 C33 both bring the molecule to an IDENTICAL
arrangement to initial one. Rotation by 360 ˚is exactly equivalent to rotation
by 0˚, i.e. the operation of doing NOTHING to the molecule.
3. Reflection through a plane of symmetry
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If reflection of all parts of a molecule through a plane produces an
indistinguishable configuration, the plane is a plane of symmetry; the
symmetry operation is one of reflection and the symmetry element is the
mirror plane (denoted by σ )
For BF3, the plane containing the molecular frame-work (the
yellow plane) is a mirror plane. In this case, the plane lies
perpendicular to the vertical principal axis and is denoted by
the symbol σh 4
Example 2: Consider the H2O molecule. This possesses a C2 axis (Figure 3.3) but
it also contains two mirror planes, one containing the H2O framework, and one
perpendicular to it. Each plane contains the principal axis of rotation and so may
be denoted as σv but in order to distinguish between them, we use the notations
σv and σv ˊ .The σv label refers to the plane that bisects the H-O-H bond angle and
the σv ˊ label refers to the plane in which the molecule lies.
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4. Reflection through a centre of symmetry (inversion centre)
If reflection of all parts of a molecule through the centre of the molecule
produces an indistinguishable configuration, the centre is a centre of
symmetry, also called a centre of inversion it is designated by the symbol i.
Each of the molecules CO2 (1), SF6 (2) and benzene (3) possesses a centre of
symmetry, but H2S (4), cis-N2F2 (5) and SiH4 (6) do not.
(1) (3)
(2)
(4) (5) (6) 6
5. Improper rotation
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. It
is denoted by the symbol Sn .
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 is
illustrated as follow
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The symmetry of crystals
Crystals are found to exhibit “10 Symmetry elements”
Symbol name
Inversion centre
m Mirror plane
2, 3, 4, 6 Rotation axes: diad, tria, tetrad, hexad
Inversion axes: inverse diad, inverse
triad,…
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The symmetry of crystals
m 2, 3, 4, 6
It is important to notice:
These elements applies for the faces of a crystal
(A crystal is a bounded collection of faces)
These elements are expected also to apply for the collection of
atoms constituting the crystal
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The symmetry of crystals
m 2, 3, 4, 6
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is a point reflects objects through it
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The symmetry of crystals
m 2, 3, 4, 6
m is a plane reflects objects through it
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The symmetry of crystals
m 2, 3, 4, 6 2
is an axis when the whole
2
“collection” rotates
around it by 180º (2π/2),
no change is observed.
Or It is an axis rotates any
object around it by 180º.
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The symmetry of crystals
m 2, 3, 4, 6
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The symmetry of crystals
4
m 2, 3, 4, 6
is an axis when the whole
4
“collection” rotates
around it by 90º (2π/4),
no change is observed.
Or It is an axis rotates any
object around it by 90º.
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The symmetry of crystals 3
m 2, 3, 4, 6
is an axis when the whole
3
“collection” rotates
around it by 120º (2π/3),
no change is observed.
Or It is an axis rotates any
object around it by 120º.
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The symmetry of crystals
6
m 2, 3, 4, 6
is an axis when the whole
6
“collection” rotates
around it by 60º (2π/6),
no change is observed.
Or It is an axis rotates any
object around it by 60º.
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The symmetry of crystals
m 2, 3, 4, 6
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The symmetry of crystals
m 2, 3, 4, 6
It is an axis rotates any object around it by (2π/n)º
followed by inversion through an inversion centre (on
the axis).
If the system has a rotation axis + inversion centre
it will have an inversion axis of the same type
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The symmetry of crystals
m 2, 3, 4, 6
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