Molecular Symmetry 135

Ifthe number of symmetry operations in the pth class is written as 8p and if there are
classes in all, Eq. (5.23) takes the
form

}8, XAR) xR,) = hÓ,

p=l
(5.24)

Here. R,refers to any one of the operations in the pth class. The equation implies that the
quantities of the type x(Rp) can be k-dimensional
k considered as the components of a
vector. the vectors being mutually orthogonal. As only k, k-dimnensional vectors can be
mutually orthogonal, there can be no more than k irreducible representations in a group
classes.
which has k

E9 CHARACTER TABLE FOR Cy AND Cry POINT GROUPZ

5.9.1 Cay Point Group
Next let us work out the one-dimensional irreducible representations of the Coy point group.
is a separate
Ca point group has the symmetry elements E, C, a., and o. As each of these
v) and each
class. there are 4 irreducible representations . , aL) for this group (rule
is of dimension one. As per rule (i)
(5.25)
;+ + + =4
only way one can select 4 positive
where I, is the dimension of the ith representation. The
=h = 1. That is, the point group Czy
integers satisfying the above relation is l, = , = h
has 4 one-dimensional irreducible representations.
representation in which all the operations will
have
point group, there will be a
In every
representation
the character 1. Taking it as the
X(o,) =1 (5.26)
X(E) =(C) = i(o)=
According to Eq. (5.20),
[E)) = 4 (5.27)
Lx,(E)] + [z,(E))' + xs(E)]' +
X(E) and X4(E) are then 1 each. The other represen
X,(E),
Ihe possible values of z,(E),Egs. (5.21) and (5.22). Using Eq. (5.21), we get
lations will have to satisfy
lx(o)T + lX(o,))' =4
[z,(E)} + (z(C)]' + (5.28)
lz(C)j' + lXlq)r + lxla,)j' = 4
[z,(E)]' +
is
if z (R) = t1. Simultaneous validity of Eq. (5.22)
Equation (5.28) is possible only
in the
representation LI, and |, have +l and the other
two
possible only if two characters terms in Eq. (5.22) as +2 and the other
two terms as
-l which makes the sum of two characters for the ireducible representations
set of
-2. the completewritten as in Table S.5.
Consequently.
various rules can
be
satisfying
 136 Molecular Structure and Spectroscopy
Table 5.5 Characters for the Various Ireducible Representations of the C Point Group
C;

-1
-1
-1

5.9.2 C,, Point Group

As a second example, we shall derive the characters of the irreducible representations of
Cs point group. The symmetry operations of the Cy point group belong to the 3 classes
E. (C. C) and 3o,. Denoting the dimensions of the 3 irreducible representations by
I,, , and
+ h+ = 6
Values of , l, and I3, satisfying this equation, are 1, 1 and 2. There will always be a
one-dimensional representation whose characters are all equal to one. According to Eq. (5.20)
(x,(E)]' + lz(E)) + (z(E))' = 6
This is possible only if z(E) = 1, X,(E) = 1and X.(E) = 2. Therefore, we have the
character table, Table 5.6, in which the characters L, M, P and have to be determined.

Table 5.6 Character Table for Cay

E 2C, 3o,
1
L M
2 P

Applying Eq. (5.24) to ,

&ilz,(E))° + &2lx(C)1' + &slXa,)' = 6
1? + 2L' + 3M = 6

Equation (5.24) when applied to and l 2, gives

81Z(E) X2(E) + 822i(C)Z,(C;) t 8Xi(a,) X(o,) = 0
I+ 2L + 3M = 0

The simplest integer values of L and Msatisfying these two relations are L. = +l and
M= -l. Similarly, from,and l,, P=-l and Q= 0. The complete set of characters is
given in Table 5.7.
 Molecular Symmetry 137
Table 5.7
Characters of the
Irreducible Representations of C.. Point Group
E
2C, 3a,
1
1
1 -1
2
-1 0