2024 Faculty Courses School of Materials and Chemical Technology Undergraduate major in Chemical Science and Engineering
Molecular Symmetry
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Chemical Science and Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Toshiro Takao
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 7-8 Thu
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- CAP.N307
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 1Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
[Summary of the lecture] This course covers fundamental concepts of group theory and its application to inorganic chemistry, in particular to determine the physical and chemical properties of a molecule on the basis of its structure.
[Aim of the lecture] The concept of symmetry is of the greatest importance in inorganic chemistry, since it helps to determine the physical and chemical properties of a molecule, such as mode of vibration and molecular orbitals, without any complicated calculations. This course focuses on the use of the group theory to the classification of the molecules, constructing molecular orbitals, and analyzing molecular vibrations and their selection rules. Students understand that symmetry considerations can be used to predict physical and chemical properties of a molecule.
Course description and aims
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) explain the symmetry operations, which leaves a molecule apparently unchanged and associated symmetry elements.
2) determine the point groups of molecules on the basis of their structure.
3) explain the physical and chemical properties of a molecule by the use of character tables.
4) construct of molecular orbitals from symmetry adapted linear combinations of atomic orbitals.
Keywords
symmetry, symmetry operations, symmetry elements, point groups, character tables, symmetry labels, symmetry adapted linear combinations of atomic orbitals, molecular vibration, molecular orbital
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
This lecture will proceeds in the following order: (1) the basic concepts of the group theory (2) assignment of a molecule to a particular point group (3) prediction of physical and chemical properties of a molecule by the use of character tables, such as analyzing molecular vibrations and their selection rules, construction of molecular orbitals by using symmetry adapted linear combinations of atomic orbitals. In the last day, final examination is set to assess the level of understanding.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Molecular symmetry; symmetry operations and symmetry elements | Explain symmetry operations and symmetry elements of a molecule and assign a molecule to a particular point group on the basis of its structure. |
| Class 2 | Character tables and symmetry labels, and their application to determine the molecular vibration mode | Explain the characters, symmetry labels, and character tables．Determine the mode of molecular vibrations on the basis of its structure． |
| Class 3 | the symmetry adopted linear combination (SALC) | Explain the symmetry adopted linear combination. |
| Class 4 | Applications of symmetry: The construction of molecular orbitals, Crystal field theory | Construct molecular orbitals from the symmetry adopted linear combination of |
| Class 5 | The electoric structures of d-metal complexes. The electronic spectra and the spectroscopic terms | Explain the microstate of electronic configurations using spectroscopic terms by considering Russell-Saunders coupling. |
| Class 6 | Ligand-field transitions and Tanabe-Sugano diagrams 1 | Explain the correlation of the spectroscopic terms of a free ion with those put in a strong-filed field and explain the d-d transitions of a complex based on Tanabe-Sugano diagrams. |
| Class 7 | Practice problems to assess the level of understanding and explanation of the answers | Understand the course contents and solve practice problems. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
P. Atkins, T. Overton, J. Rourke, M. Weller, F. Armstrong, "Inorganic Chemistry", 5th Ed., Oxford University Press; ISBN: 978-0199236176
Reference books, course materials, etc.
1) None required.
2) All materials used in class can be found on OCW-i.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Final examination (60%), level of class participation (40%) which is assessed by small quizzes and so on.
Related courses
- CAP.N302.L ： Inorganic Chemistry (Materials Science)
- CAP.N201.L ： Inorganic Chemistry I (Chemical Bonding)
- CAP.N202.L ： Inorganic Chemistry II (Chemical Reactions and Structures of Solids)
- CAP.N203 ： Inorganic Chemistry III (Elements・Compounds)
- CAP.N205.L： Inorganic Chemistry (Theory II)
Prerequisites
No prerequisites are necessary, but enrollment in the related courses (Inorganic Chemistry I (Bonding) (CAP.B221), Inorganic Chemistry II (Chemical Reactions and Structures of Solids) (CAP.B222), Inorganic Chemistry (Materials Science) (CAP.B223), and Inorganic Chemistry (Elements and Compounds) (CAP.B224) ) is desirable.
Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).
Toshiro Takao (takao.t.aa[at]m.titech.ac.jp・ext. 2580)
Office hours
Contact by e-mail in advance to schedule an appointment.