![]() ![]() The number and kind of symmetry operations that can be carried out defines the symmetry of the object. It is defined as a movement of an object into an equivalent indistinguishable orientation. ![]() How can we measure the self-similarity, or symmetry of an object quantitatively? We can do this using the concept of the symmetry operation. Figure 2.1.1 Symmetry depicted through an image of a butterfly (Attribution: Chemlibretexts /) If the left wing was very different from the right wing the butterfly would look less symmetric. For example, we would argue that the two wings of the butterfly depicted look similar. The more similar parts it has the more symmetric it appears. One common definition is that symmetry is the self-similarity of an object. Symmetry is very familiar to us as we associate symmetry with beauty, but very familiar things are not necessarily easy to define scientifically. Let us first find a definition for symmetry. We will therefore first discuss the general foundations of symmetry and group theory, and then apply them to chemical problems, in particular chemical bonding. For example it helps us to classify the structures of molecules and crystals, understand chemical bonding, predict vibrational spectra, and determine the optical activity of compounds. However, symmetry, and the underlying mathematical theory for symmetry, group theory, are of tremendous importance in chemistry because they can be applied to many chemistry problems. Symmetry is actually a concept of mathematics and not of chemistry. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |