Introduction to molecular symmetry

The descriptor symmetrical implies that a species possesses a number of indistinguishable configurations. When structure 3.1 is rotated in the plane of the paper 

In Fig. 3.1, we apphed 120° rotations to BF3 and saw that each rotation generated a representation of the molecule that was indistinguishable from the first. Each rotation is an example of a symmetry operation. 

A symmetry operation is an operation performed on an object which leaves it in a configuration that is indistinguishable from, and superunposable on, the original configuration. 

The rotations described in Fig. 3.1 are performed about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the paper and passing through the boron atom the axis is an example of 

A symmetry operation is carried out with respect to points, lines or planes, the latter being the symmetry elements. 

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Ogden, J. S. (2001) Introduction to Molecular Symmetry, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Schonland, D. (1965) Molecular Symmetry, Van Nostrand, London. 

Theory, Wiley, New York - An introduction to molecular symmetry and group theory as applied to chemical problems including vibrational spectroscopy. 

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