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Symmetry Elements
1. Rotation A Symmetrical Pattern
a. Two-fold rotation
= 360o/2 rotation 6
to reproduce a
motif in a
symmetrical
pattern 6
2-D Symmetry
Symmetry Elements
Operation
1. Rotation
a. Two-fold rotation
Motif
= 360o/2 rotation 6
to reproduce a
motif in a Element
symmetrical
pattern 6
= the symbol for a two-fold
rotation
2-D Symmetry
Symmetry Elements
1. Rotation
a. Two-fold rotation
Symmetry Elements
1. Rotation
a. Two-fold rotation
Some familiar
objects have an
intrinsic
symmetry
2-D Symmetry
Symmetry Elements
1. Rotation
a. Two-fold rotation
Some familiar
objects have an
intrinsic
symmetry
2-D Symmetry
Symmetry Elements
1. Rotation
a. Two-fold rotation
Some familiar
objects have an
intrinsic
symmetry
2-D Symmetry
Symmetry Elements
1. Rotation
a. Two-fold rotation
Some familiar
objects have an
intrinsic
symmetry
2-D Symmetry
Symmetry Elements
1. Rotation
a. Two-fold rotation
Some familiar
objects have an
intrinsic
symmetry
2-D Symmetry
Symmetry Elements
1. Rotation
a. Two-fold rotation
Some familiar
objects have an
intrinsic
symmetry
2-D Symmetry
Symmetry Elements
1. Rotation
a. Two-fold rotation
Some familiar
objects have an
intrinsic
symmetry
180o rotation makes it coincident
Second 180o brings the object
back to its original position
Whats the motif here??
2-D Symmetry
Symmetry Elements
1. Rotation
b. Three-fold rotation
= 360o/3 rotation 6
to reproduce a
motif in a
6
symmetrical pattern
6
2-D Symmetry
Symmetry Elements
1. Rotation
b. Three-fold rotation
to reproduce a
motif in a
6
symmetrical pattern step 3
6 step 2
2-D Symmetry
Symmetry Elements
1. Rotation
6 6 6 6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6 6
6 6 6
a Z
identity
5-fold and > 6-fold rotations will not work in combination with translations in crystals
(as we shall see later). Thus we will exclude them now.
4-fold, 2-fold, and 3-fold
rotations in a cube
Symmetry Elements
2. Inversion (i)
inversion through a
center to reproduce a
motif in a symmetrical
6
pattern
= symbol for an
inversion center
inversion is identical to 2-fold 6
rotation in 2-D, but is unique
in 3-D (try it with your
hands)
2-D Symmetry
Symmetry Elements
3. Reflection (m)
Reflection across a
mirror plane
reproduces a motif
1 2 3 4 6 m
Step 1: reflect
Step 1: reflect
Step 1: reflect
Is that all??
2-D Symmetry
Try combining a 2-fold rotation axis with a mirror
Step 1: reflect
Step 1: reflect
2-D Symmetry
Now try combining a 4-fold rotation axis with a mirror
Step 1: reflect
Step 2: rotate 1
2-D Symmetry
Now try combining a 4-fold rotation axis with a mirror
Step 1: reflect
Step 2: rotate 2
2-D Symmetry
Now try combining a 4-fold rotation axis with a mirror
Step 1: reflect
Step 2: rotate 3
2-D Symmetry
Now try combining a 4-fold rotation axis with a mirror
4mm
Why not 4mmmm?
2-D Symmetry
3-fold rotation axis with a mirror creates point group 3m
a. 1-fold rotoinversion ( 1 )
3-D Symmetry
a. 1-fold rotoinversion ( 1 )
a. 1-fold rotoinversion ( 1 )
b. 2-fold rotoinversion ( 2 )
b. 2-fold rotoinversion ( 2 )
Step 2: invert
3-D Symmetry
b. 2-fold rotoinversion ( 2 )
The result:
3-D Symmetry
b. 2-fold rotoinversion ( 2 )
c. 3-fold rotoinversion ( 3 )
3-D Symmetry
c. 3-fold rotoinversion ( 3 )
1
Step 1: rotate 360o/3
Again, this is a
temporary step, the
intermediate motif
element does not exist
in the final pattern
3-D Symmetry
c. 3-fold rotoinversion ( 3 )
c. 3-fold rotoinversion ( 3 )
1
Completion of the first
sequence
2
3-D Symmetry
c. 3-fold rotoinversion ( 3 )
c. 3-fold rotoinversion ( 3 )
c. 3-fold rotoinversion ( 3 )
3
1
Complete second step to
create face 3
2
3-D Symmetry
c. 3-fold rotoinversion ( 3 )
3 1
Third step creates face 4
(3 (1) 4) 4
2
3-D Symmetry
c. 3-fold rotoinversion ( 3 )
5 1
Fourth step creates face
5 (4 (2) 5)
2
3-D Symmetry
c. 3-fold rotoinversion ( 3 )
6
Sixth step returns to face 1
3-D Symmetry
c. 3-fold rotoinversion ( 3 )
3
5 1
This is unique
4 2
6
3-D Symmetry
d. 4-fold rotoinversion ( 4 )
3-D Symmetry
d. 4-fold rotoinversion ( 4 )
3-D Symmetry
d. 4-fold rotoinversion ( 4 )
1: Rotate 360/4
3-D Symmetry
d. 4-fold rotoinversion ( 4 )
1: Rotate 360/4
2: Invert
3-D Symmetry
d. 4-fold rotoinversion ( 4 )
1: Rotate 360/4
2: Invert
3-D Symmetry
d. 4-fold rotoinversion ( 4 )
3: Rotate 360/4
3-D Symmetry
d. 4-fold rotoinversion ( 4 )
3: Rotate 360/4
4: Invert
3-D Symmetry
d. 4-fold rotoinversion ( 4 )
3: Rotate 360/4
4: Invert
3-D Symmetry
d. 4-fold rotoinversion ( 4 )
5: Rotate 360/4
3-D Symmetry
d. 4-fold rotoinversion ( 4 )
5: Rotate 360/4
6: Invert
3-D Symmetry
d. 4-fold rotoinversion ( 4 )
d. 4-fold rotoinversion ( 4 )
A more fundamental
representative of the
pattern
3-D Symmetry
e. 6-fold rotoinversion ( 6 )
e. 6-fold rotoinversion ( 6 ) 1
3-D Symmetry
e. 6-fold rotoinversion ( 6 ) 1
3-D Symmetry
e. 6-fold rotoinversion ( 6 ) 1
2
3-D Symmetry
e. 6-fold rotoinversion ( 6 ) 1
2
3-D Symmetry
e. 6-fold rotoinversion ( 6 ) 1
3
2
3-D Symmetry
e. 6-fold rotoinversion ( 6 ) 1
3
2
3-D Symmetry
e. 6-fold rotoinversion ( 6 ) 1
3
4
3-D Symmetry
e. 6-fold rotoinversion ( 6 ) 1
3
4
3-D Symmetry
e. 6-fold rotoinversion ( 6 ) 1
3
5
2
4
3-D Symmetry
e. 6-fold rotoinversion ( 6 ) 1
3
5
2
4
3-D Symmetry
e. 6-fold rotoinversion ( 6 ) 1
3
5
2
6 4
3-D Symmetry
e. 6-fold rotoinversion ( 6 )
e. 6-fold rotoinversion ( 6 )
A simpler pattern
Top View
3-D Symmetry
We now have 10 unique 3-D symmetry operations:
1 2 3 4 6 i m 3 4 6
Combinations of these elements are also possible
Table 5.1 of Klein (2002) Manual of Mineral Science, John Wiley and Sons
3-D Symmetry
The 32 3-D Point Groups
Regrouped by Crystal System
(more later when we consider translations)
Crystal System No Center Center
Triclinic 1 1
Monoclinic 2, 2 (= m) 2/m
Orthorhombic 222, 2mm 2/m 2/m 2/m
Tetragonal 4, 4, 422, 4mm, 42m 4/m, 4/m 2/m 2/m
Hexagonal 3, 32, 3m 3, 3 2/m
6, 6, 622, 6mm, 62m 6/m, 6/m 2/m 2/m
Isometric 23, 432, 43m 2/m 3, 4/m 3 2/m
Table 5.3 of Klein (2002) Manual of Mineral Science, John Wiley and Sons
3-D Symmetry
The 32 3-D Point Groups