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MOLECULAR SYMMETRY
http://ocw.nctu.edu.tw/upload/classbfs120912043213088.pdf
Dr. S. M. Condren, Christian Brothers University
http://web-docs.gsi.de/~wolle/TELEKOLLEG/KERN/PPT/NH3-symmetry1.ppt
http://www.slideshare.net/ZuhriyatusSholichah/the-determination-of-point-groups
1
Lecture 3 Reading
• Molecular symmetry
[2]: chapter 4, focus on 4.1, 4.2, further reading 4.3, 4.4
[1]: 6.1-6.5
2
Molecular symmetry
Contents and practice skills
• Symmetry operations • Determine symmetry
and elements operations and elements
• Point groups • Assign point group
• Applications of
symmetry (self-reading)
– Polar molecules
– Chiral molecules
– Molecular vibrations
Molecular Symmetry
sym·me·try
noun
1. the quality of being made up of exactly similar parts facing each other or around an
axis.
"this series has a line of symmetry through its center"
2. correct or pleasing proportion of the parts of a thing.
"an overall symmetry making the poem pleasant to the ear"
3. similarity or exact correspondence between different things.
plural noun: symmetries
"history sometimes exhibits weird symmetries between events"
4
Molecular Symmetry –Point Group
– Symmetry elements: A point, line or plane about
which the symmetry operation is performed
– Symmetry operations: actions that leave the
molecule apparently unchanged
around the
center
5
Some common
symmetry elements and operations
1 None
2 Axis (Proper) Rotation
3
4 Center of inversion Inversion
5 Axis + mirror plane Improper Rotation
6
Identity operation (E)
• Cause no change in the molecule
• Apply for every molecule
• SiHClBrF: has only this symmetry
F
Si
Br Cl
H
7
Rotation operation (Cn)
• Proper axis of rotation → Cn
Where: rotation degree = 360/n
▪ n = 2, 180o rotation
▪ n = 3, 120o rotation
▪ n = 4, 90o rotation
▪ n = 6, 60o rotation
• Principal axis of rotation, Cn
8
9
10
Rotations for a Trigonal Planar Molecule
11
12
Reflection Operations
Mirror planes
σh → mirror plane perpendicular to a principal axis of rotation
σv → mirror plane containing principal axis of rotation
σd → mirror plane bisects dihedral angle made by the principal axis
of rotation and two adjacent C2 axes perpendicular to principal
rotation axis
13
Rotations and Mirrors in a Bent Molecule
σ+σ=E
14
Inversion Operation
Symmetry Element:
Center of inversion i
i×i=E
15
Compare Inversion and C2
16
Improper Rotation (Sn)
• Sn: Rotation by 360o/n
• followed by reflection perpendicular to rotation axis
17
Table of Symmetry Elements and Operations
18
Table of Symmetry Elements and Operations
19
Point group
C2 ϭv ϭv
21
The C1 point group
• No symmetry elements
• Rotate through 360º: remain unchanged.
• Axis: 360º/360º = 1-fold
→ C1 axis/group
I
I N
Cl
C H
Br
Cl
F
Bromo-chloro-fluoro-iodo- chloro-iodo-amine
methane
22
Cs and Ci groups
I σ • Only 1 σ
C → Cs
Cl
F
F
chloro-difluoro-iodo-
methane
• Only 1 (i)
→ Ci
23
Most land animals have bilateral symmetry, and
belong to the Cs point group:
Cs
Mirror planes (σ)
24
Naming point groups
• Letter: rotational group
• Subscript number: order of the principal rotational axis
(e.g. 3-fold or 4 fold etc.)
A ‘D’ indicates an n-fold
principal rotation axis
A “C ” indicates plus n 2-fold axes at
only one rotational right angles to it
axis
25
Naming point groups
A subscript ‘h’ means that there is C3 principal axis
a σh mirror plane at right angles to only one
the n-fold principal axis: of the three
σv planes
C4 principal axis is shown
σv
D3d
σh A subscript ‘d’ (or v for C groups)
D4h means there is no σh mirror plane,
but only n σv mirror planes
containing the principal Cn axis.
26
C2 , C 3 T = tetrahedral
O = octahedral
I = icosahedral
C2 , C 3 , C 4
C2 , C 3 , C5
→ C∞v
28
D∞h group
i • has a center of inversion (i)
• Linear: C∞ principal rotation
C∞ axis.
• ∞ ϭv (reflection containing C∞)
• → D∞h
29
Td group
• 4 C3 principal rotation axis (more
than 1 principle axis Cn where n >2)
• No inversion center i
• 3 C2
• 6 ϭd
→ Td
30
Oh and Ih groups
31
C and D groups
Symmetry n nv nh
operations
C Cn Cnv Cnh
D Dn Dnv Dnh
If there are n C2 axes at right angles (90o) to the
principal axis, we have a Dn point group, If not, it is a Cn
point group.
33
The Cn point groups
These have a Cn axis as their only symmetry element. They generally
resemble propellers which have the front and back different. Important
examples are (hydrogens omitted for clarity):
triphenyl C3 Cobalt(III)
phosphine tris-glycinate
viewed down viewed down
C3 axis C3 C3 axis
C3 C3
C3 C3
triphenyl Cobalt(III)
phosphine tris-glycinate
viewed from viewed from
the side the side
34
Practice
• H2S, NH3, VOF4-, PF4I, SF4, COCl2
35
The D groups
• n C2 axes perpendicular to the principal axis
C2 principal
• Include Dn, Dnd, and Dnh C2 D2
C3 (3) σv contain C3
C2 [Cu(en)2]2+ (en =
ethylene diamine)
Staggered form
of ethane
D3d
C2
C6 σh C2
σv σv
D6h
C6
C6
principal axis
principal axis
39
Practice
• PtCl2(NH3)2
• C2H4
• PF5
• BH3
• SO3
• [PtCl4]2-
40
D2 point group
C2 principal
C2 D2
C2
41
D3 point group
C2 [Co(en)3]3+
C3 principal axis
C2
C2
axis
C2
C3 D3
principal axis
D3d D5d
Staggered form
of ethane Staggered form of ferrocene
43
Determining point group
44
Decision Tree
Start here
47
More examples after slide 39
C3 C2
C2 C2 principal axis
C2
C2
C2
D3 D3
[Co(oxalate)3]3- [Co(bipyridyl)3]3+
48
More examples after slide 39
Some cobalt(III) complexes belonging to the D3
point group:
C2
C2 C2 CH3
3+ 3+
NH2 H H3C O CH3
N
2
H2N N O O
N N
Co Co Co
O O
H2N N N N
H2 H3C O CH3
NH2 N
CH3
D3
49
More examples after slide 39
C2
D3 O C3
3+
O H2
NH 2 H
2 H2N N
H2N N
Co Co
O O
H2N N O
H2 NH 2
NH 2 O
tris(ethylenediamine)cobalt(III) tris(glycinato)cobalt(III)
50
The D4d point group
C4 principal axis σv
C2 C2 σv σv
C2 C2
C2 σv
C4 C4
[ZrF8 ]4- principal axis
principal axis
Square antiprism D4d
As predicted by VSEPR, the [ZrF8]4- anion has a square anti-prismatic structure.
At left is seen the C4 principal axis. It has four C2 axes at right angles to it, so it
has D4 symmetry. One C2 axis is shown side-on (center). There are four σv mirror
planes (right), but no mirror plane at right angles to C4, so the point group does
not rate an h, and is D4d. 51
[K(18-crown-6)]+, an example of a D3d point
group
C3
principal axis C3 principal axis σv
C2 C2
K+
σv
C2
C2 C2
C2 σv
D3d
The complex cation [K(18-crown-6)]+ above is an important structure that
has D3d symmetry. It has a C3 principal axis with 3 C2 axes at right
angles to it, as well as three σv mirror planes that contain the C3 axis,
but no σh mirror plane (because it’s not flat, as seen at center), so is D3d.
52