C6310 Molecular And Crystal Symmetry

Faculty of Science
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 2 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Marek Nečas, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Marek Nečas, Ph.D.
Department of Chemistry – Chemistry Section – Faculty of Science
Supplier department: Department of Chemistry – Chemistry Section – Faculty of Science
Prerequisites
No prerequisite or concurrent.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 25 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to provide understanding of the concepts of molecular and crystal symmetry, symmetry point groups and plane groups, and their applications in vibrational spectroscopy, chemical bond theory, and crystallography.
Learning outcomes
Upon completing this course, students will be able: to determine the point group of symmetry for a given molecule; to find a reducible representation and decompose it into its irreducible components; to solve problems in vibrational spectroscopy using character tables; to identify symmetry elements in two-dimensional repeating patterns and assign them plane symmetry groups.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction: symmetry in natural sciences including history

    2. Symmetry elements and operations. Symmetry contingent molecular properties.

    3. The point symmetry groups, classification of molecules.

    4. Group, the defining properties, the multiplication table, subgroup, class.

    5. Irreducible representations and their characters.

    6. Matrix representations of groups, characters.

    7. Character tables of irreducible representations. Relationships between reducible and irreducible representations. Degeneracy.

    8. Symmetry of molecular vibrations.

    9. Applications to chemical bonding.

    10. Zero and non-zero values of integrals. Selection rules in spectroscopy.

    11. Periodicity in one, two, and three dimensions. Structure, lattice, and unit cells.

    12. Symmetry of five plane lattices. Crystallographic point groups, plane symmetry groups. Glide planes and screw axes.

Literature
    recommended literature
  • ATKINS, P. W. and Julio DE PAULA. Fyzikální chemie. Vyd. 1. Praha: Vysoká škola chemicko-technologická v Praze, 2013, xxvi, 915. ISBN 9788070808306. info
  • WILLOCK, David J. Molecular symmetry. 1st ed. Chichester: Wiley, 2009, xii, 426. ISBN 9780470853481. info
  • Cotton, Frank Albert. Chemical Applications of Group Theory, 3rd Edition, John Wiley & Sons; ISBN: 0471510947
  • KETTLE, S. F. A. Symmetry and structure : readable group theory for chemists. 3rd ed. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons, 2007, viii, 426. ISBN 9780470060391. info
  • TILLEY, R. J. D. Crystals and crystal structures. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons, 2006, xiii, 255. ISBN 0470018208. info
  • GIROLAMI, Gregory S. X-ray crystallography. Mill Valley: University Science Books, 2016, xii, 500. ISBN 9781891389771. info
    not specified
  • HARGITTAI, István and Magdolna HARGITTAI. Symmetry through the eyes of a chemist. 2nd ed. New York: Plenum Press, 1995, xii, 496 s. ISBN 0-306-44852-1. info
Teaching methods
Twelve lectures with exercises.
Assessment methods
Written exam.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2008 - for the purpose of the accreditation, Spring 2011 - only for the accreditation, Spring 2000, Spring 2001, Spring 2002, Spring 2003, Spring 2004, Spring 2005, Spring 2006, Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, spring 2012 - acreditation, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, autumn 2017, spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/spring2025/C6310