Improper axis of rotation
In the context of molecular symmetry, a symmetry operation is a permutation of atoms such that the molecule or crystal is transformed into a state indistinguishable from the starting state. Two basic facts follow from this definition, which emphasize its usefulness.
Wavefunctions need not be invariant, because the operation can multiply them by a phase or mix states within a degenerate representation, without affecting any physical property.
These are denoted by Cnm and are rotations of 360°/n, performed m times. The superscript m is omitted if it is equal to one.
C1, rotation by 360°, is called the Identity operation and is denoted by E or I.
Cnn, n rotations 360°/n is also an Identity operation.
These are denoted by Snm and are rotations of 360°/n followed by reflection in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis.
S1 is usually denoted as σ, a reflection operation about a mirror plane.
S2 is usually denoted as i, an inversion operation about an inversion centre.
When n is an even number Snn = E, but when n is odd Sn2n = E.
Rotation axes, mirror planes and inversion centres are symmetry elements, not operations. The rotation axis of highest order is known as the principal rotation axis. It is conventional to set the Cartesian z axis of the molecule to contain the principal rotation axis.
Dichloromethane, CH2Cl2. There is a C2 rotation axis which passes through the carbon atom and the midpoints between the two hydrogen atoms and the two chlorine atoms. Define the z axis as co-linear with the C2 axis, the xz plane as containing CH2 and the yz plane as containing CCl2. A C2 rotation operation permutes the two hydrogen atoms and the two chlorine atoms. Reflection in the yz plane permutes the hydrogen atoms while reflection in the xz plane permutes the chlorine atoms. The four symmetry operations E, C2, σ(xz)and σ(yz) form the point group C2v. Note that if any two operations are carried out in succession the result is the same as if a single operation of the group had been performed.
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