Chapter 4: Problem 2

Determine the number of symmetry elements for the following molecules: (a) \(\mathrm{SO}_{2}\) (b) \(\mathrm{CCl}_{4}\) (c) \(\mathrm{Fe}(\mathrm{CN})_{6}^{3-}\) (d) \(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{2}\)

Short Answer

Expert verified

The number of symmetry elements for the molecules are: (a) SO2 has 1, (b) CCl4 has 16, (c) Fe(CN)6 3- has 18, (d) H2O2 has 3.

Step by step solution

Identify symmetry elements in SO2

SO2 is a linear molecule with Sulfur in the middle, two oxygen atoms at each end. It has a reflection plane, which is the plane that bisects the molecule into two equal halves. Such a plane is also known as the plane of symmetry or mirror plane. Thus, SO2 has 1 symmetry element.

Identify symmetry elements in CCl4

CCl4 is a tetrahedrally structured molecule with Carbon at the center and four Chlorine atoms on the corners of the tetrahedron. With the Carbon atom at the center, there are 3C2 (perpendicular to C-Cl bonds), 4C3 (passing through C atom and bisecting opposite C-Cl bonds) and 3S4 (passing through C atom and bisecting opposite C-Cl bonds). It also has 6σd (bisecting the angle between adjacent C-Cl bonds). Thus, CCl4 has in total 16 symmetry elements.

Identify symmetry elements in Fe(CN)6 3-

Fe(CN)6 3- is an example of an octahedral complex. Similar to CCl4, it also has 3C2 axes, 4C3 axes and 3S4 axes. But it has more σd (8). Thus, Fe(CN)6 3- has in total 18 symmetry elements.

Identify symmetry elements in H2O2

The molecule H2O2 has a C2 rotation axis and two σv planes through O-O bond. Thus, H2O2 has 3 symmetry elements.

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Determine the number of symmetry elements for the following molecules: (a) \(\mathrm{SO}_{2}\) (b) \(\mathrm{CCl}_{4}\) (c) \(\mathrm{Fe}(\mathrm{CN})_{6}^{3-}\) (d) \(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{2}\)

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Identify symmetry elements in SO2

Identify symmetry elements in CCl4

Identify symmetry elements in Fe(CN)6 3-

Identify symmetry elements in H2O2

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