Point Group syllabus : C2v, C3v,C2h, D2h, D3h, D4h, D6h, Td and Oh
Definition : A set of symmetry operations form a point group if all the elements in the set obey
all the four rules of a mathematical Group.
Water molecule: C2V
Water molecule has Angular shape
The principal axis of the molecule is C2
It is a non-linear molecule
It has two perpendicular planes i.e) σv planes
It has no horizontal planes
It has no n no of C2.
Therefore it does not belong to D class of point group
Hence, the point group of water molecule is C2V
The elements of symmetry of C2V point group is {E, C2, σv’, σv’’}
Examples : H2S
C3V point group:
Ammonia has pyramidal shape
The principal axis of the molecule is C3.
It has one more rotational operation namely, C32
It is a non-linear molecule
It has three perpendicular planes i.e)3 σv planes
It has no horizontal planes
It has no n no of C2.
It has no centre of symmetry
Therefore it does not belong to D class of point group.
Point group of ammonia is C3V.
Its symmetry elements are {E, C3, C32, σv’, σv’’, σv’’’}
Other examples are XeO3, Pcl3, CHCl3
C2h Point group:
Trans N2F2 belongs to this point group.
It has one principal axis C2.
It is a non-linear molecule.
It has one inversion centre i
It has one horizontal plane σh.
It has no vertical planes.
It has no n no of C2.
Therefore it does not belong to D class of point group.
Its symmetry elements are {E, C2, i, σh }
Other examples are H2O2, Trans dichloro ethylene
D2h point group:
CH2=CH2
It is a planar molecule.
It has one principal axis C2
It has two C2 axes orthogonal to the principal axis.
Hence, it belongs to D class of point group
It has one inversion centre
It also has a horizontal mirror plane intersecting the principal axis i.e) σh.
It also has two vertical mirror planes parallel with the principal axis i.e) 2σv planes
Its symmetry elements are {E, C2, 2 C2, i, 2σv, σh.}
Another example is
D3h Point group:
It has Triangular planar shape
It is a non-linear molecule.
It has one principal axis C3
It also has C32 axis of rotation
It has three C2 axes orthogonal to the principal axis.
Hence, it belongs to D class of point group
It has three vertical planes i.e) 3σv planes
It also has a horizontal mirror plane intersecting the principal axis i.e) σh
Its symmetry elements are {E, C3, C32, 3 C2, 3σv, σh,, 2S3 }
Other examples are, Pcl5, eclipsed ethane
D4h point group:
Ptcl4 2- has square planar geomentry.
It is a non-linear molecule
It has one principal axis C4 and C42
It also has one perpendicular C2 axis
It has four C2 axes orthogonal to the principal axis.
Hence, it belongs to D class of point group
Similiarly, it has2 vertical planes and two dihedral planes i.e) 2σv planes and 2σd
planes.
It has one inversion centre
It also has two S4 axis.
It also has a horizontal mirror plane intersecting the principal axis i.e) σh
Its symmetry elements are {E, C4, C42, C2, 4 C2, 2σv, 2σd, i ,σh,, 2S4 }
Other examples are XeF4,
D6h point group:
Benzene
It is a non-linear molecule.
It has one principal axis C6
It has six C2 axes orthogonal to the principal axis.
Hence, it belongs to D class of point group
Similiarly, it has three vertical planes and three dihedral planes i.e) 3σv planes and 3σd
planes.
It has one inversion centre
It also has a horizontal mirror plane intersecting the principal axis i.e) σh
In addition, it also has 2S3 and 2S6 improper axis of rotation.
Its symmetry elements are {E,2C6, C2, 6 C2, 3σv, 3σd, i ,σh,, 2S3, 2S6 }
Other examples are coronene, kekulene,[18]- Annulene, superphane
Cubical point group;
Td point group :
It is a non-linear molecule.
The principal axis of Td point group is C3.
It has three C2 axes.
It also has six dihedral planes.
It has no inversion centre
It has no horizontal mirror plane intersecting the principal axis i.e) σh
It has no C5 axis of symmetry
Its symmetry elements are {E, 8C3, 3C2, 6 σd, 6S4}
Other examples are CH4, Urotropine, fullerene-28, adamantine