Questions tagged [symmetry]
The description of the symmetry present in molecules. Molecular symmetry is useful for explaining or predicting of a molecule's chemical properties.
253
questions
29
votes
1
answer
105k
views
What are t2g and eg in CFT?
In the crystal field theory (CFT), when the splitting of the d-orbital occurs, it gets divided into two parts.
The upper part with higher energy is the $\mathrm{e_g}$ and the lower part with lower ...
1
vote
0
answers
48
views
electronic transition for polyenic molecules
I am having troubles with polyenes states symmetry.
I found an exercise on the pentadien, where they ask us to analyze the symmetry of the singlet excited states corresponding to:
State S1: π+ →π+
...
12
votes
2
answers
4k
views
How are there two C3 rotation axes in ammonia?
If we look at the character table for the $C_\mathrm{3v}$ point group (which $\ce{NH3}$ is an example of), we see that these are the symmetry elements ${E, 2 C_3, 3 \sigma_v}$ present in the molecule. ...
2
votes
1
answer
202
views
Procedure to assign the irreducible representation of a derivative operator
How can we assign an irreducible representation to a derivative operator like
$\displaystyle\frac{\mathrm d}{\mathrm dx}$ or the whole gradient operator $\nabla$ in a given point group?
Since the ...
2
votes
1
answer
265
views
Mathematical definition of a symmetry operator
I had a hard time understanding what it means to apply a symmetry operator to a function, so I wondered if there is a formal way to define this? As far as I understand, applying a symmetry operation ...
4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Whats the symmetric, anti-symmetric and non-symmetric part of the direct product of irreducible representations?
I am trying to understand how to see if a vibrational mode is Jahn-Teller active or not. According to the group theoretical description of the Jahn-Teller effect one needs to check if the symmetric ...
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Example of an achiral molecule without a plane of symmetry or inversion center?
Some websites, such as this textbook, mention how generally a plane of symmetry or inversion center in a molecule is enough to consider it achiral. Nonetheless, this source clarifies
but if these ...
0
votes
0
answers
49
views
are the exact and kohn-sham electron densities totally symmetric?
For any molecule with open or closed shells considering the electronic state to be the ground state:
Is the exact electron density totally symmetric?
is the Kohn-Sham electron density totally ...
0
votes
3
answers
200
views
A question about rotational symmetry of organic molecules and in particular, the cyclic Isomers of C3H4X2
I was thinking about an organic chemistry problem a few days ago but reached a dead end. There were 2 parts to this question.
The first was thinking about the isomers of 'C3H4X2' [where X could be ...
5
votes
0
answers
775
views
Optical activity of tartaric acid
The meso-form of tartaric acid is optically inactive due to the plane of symmetry. But how are these forms able to show optical activity when the σ-bonds can freely rotate, which can change the ...
1
vote
1
answer
6k
views
How are these molecules chiral and achiral?
I always thought that a molecule couldn't be chiral if it had a plane of symmetry. Doesn't the chiral molecule here have symmetry diagonally across the OHs?
The achiral one doesn't look symmetrical ...
2
votes
0
answers
59
views
Is there a better coordinate framework and symmetry operator for constructing molecular orbitals of molecules with higher-order geometry?
The following excerpt is taken from [1] (with a few rewording, emphasizes are mine).
In an attempt to construct molecular orbital (MO) of any molecule, one needs to determine the symmetries of ...
1
vote
0
answers
202
views
Tetrahedral complex and vibronic coupling or different rule for d-d transition?
I'm currently preparing a few slides for an upcoming talk in our group. I would like to mention some of the very basics regarding crystal field and ligand field theory as well, though this will not be ...
0
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Software for determining symmetry elements and point group of drawn molecules
The title represents my overall question. I would like to have a software that able to draw molecules (especially coordination complexes) and determine the symmetry elements and point group of the ...
3
votes
1
answer
157
views
Character table and symmetry operations
It's been a while since I've dealt with these, but do character tables include all possible symmetry operations?
I am looking at the $D_\mathrm{\infty h}$ point group table and it lists $C_\infty$, $\...