Molecular Symmetry and Group Theory

Workshop 1 — Symmetry elements and operations


  • Return To Workshop One Contents Page

  • Exercise 2

      In the staggered conformation (see table below), the ethane molecule has an S6 rotation axis.
    Click for larger image
      Using the images in the table, click on the H atom in the product which should be coloured red given the operations performed (Note — rotations are clockwise) about the S6 axis in C2H6.
      (You may find this easier to visualize using Newman projections. Remember, all the H atoms are identical - one has been coloured red merely for convenience!)

    Operations Clickable Image Corresponding Answer
    S6
    S62
    S63
    S64
    S65
    S66

    Fill in the table below for those S6 operations you think have equivalent symmetry operations generated by other symmetry elements of ethane. Hence, check all the independent symmetry operations we should assign to S6.

    Symmetry
    Operations
    S6
    S62
    S63
    S64
    S65
    S66
    Equivalent Symmetry
    Element (if any)
    Independent Symmetry
    Operation?

    In general, if n is even and n/2 is odd, then Snn/2i.

    Previous (Exercise 1) Return to top of page Next (Exercise 3)