<b>Chem 315:<b> Fall 2001

Professor Kenneth S. Suslick             Fall 2001

Course Info., Syllabus, Libr. List Lectures
Homework Exam Answers
Handouts Point Group Practice
Solid State Crystal Structures  

Point Group Practice




You will need MDL Chemscape Chime, which is a 3-D molecular modeling plug-in for your browser, in order to view the molecules for this assignment. If you are working at the Chemistry Learning Center, you should not have any problems viewing the models. If for some reason you are having trouble because the models are not automatically loading with the plug-in, click on the "refresh" icon at the top of your screen. If that fails, reboot or move to another computer.

If you are working outside of the Chemistry Learning Center, the Chemscape Chime Plug-In for Netscape or Internet Explorer browsers can be downloaded from MDL Information Systems Chemscape Chime.


Helpful Hints

The manipulation of molecules in space using Chime 2.0 is controlled with the use of the mouse along with holding down either the right or left mouse button and/or the shift or control button on the keyboard. For more specific instructions on to arrange molecules in space, click here to view the mouse controls help page.

It may be easier to view your molecule displayed in the sticks or ball & stick mode as opposed to the default wireframe mode. To access the display and option menus, hold down the right click button when you are in Chime.

If you are unsure of the identity of the atoms in some of the models, use labels located in the Chime options menu since some of the colors may be the same even for different elements.

If Chime does not load properly, click on "refresh" located with the browser icons. If an error prompt appears, it may be necessary to reboot the computer, or move to another PC.

When finished viewing, click on "back" located with the browser icons to return to this page.


Please spend a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the software before you start on the assignment.




Molecular Models



Assign the Symmetry Point Group to each of the following molecules. Use Chime to help visualize the molecules and recognize the symmetry elements.

You should also confirm the molecular geometries based on VSEPR rules (handout).





There are many equivalent flow charts for choosing point groups of molecules. I've attached three below:


Point Group Flow Chart (Hugheey)

Point Group Flow Chart (Shriver)

Point Group Flow Chart (Harris)




PART 1.

a. PF3

b. PF5

c. SO2

d. CO2

e. ClF3

f. PtCl42-

g. SeCl4

h. 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene

i. BFClBr

j. C2H2

k. H2O2

l. 2,2'-bipyridine

m. eclipsed ethane

n. staggered ethane

o. POCl3

p. "chair" cyclohexane

q. "boat" cyclohexane

r. XeF4

s. NO3-

t. I3-

u. cubane

v. C60






Answers to Part 1 a-v.






Part 2, More Molecules to assign.

Click here and a jpg will show the molecules whose point groups are to be assigned.
The pdb files of each molecule are available below:



Part 2a pdb file

Part 2b pdb file

Part 2c pdb file

Part 2h pdb file

Part 2i pdb file

Part 2j pdb file

Part 2k pdb file

Part 2l pdb file

Part 2m pdb file

Part 2n pdb file

Part 2o pdb file

Part 2p pdb file






Answers to Part 2.








Please address any comments or questions to Professor Suslick


© 2001, K.S. Suslick