Group Theory
Problem Set

"Group Theory Calculations of Molecular Vibrations Using Spreadsheets"
by S. M. Condren
J. Chem. Ed.,
Vol. 71, pg. 486, (1994)
Excel spreadsheet files

Table 1. C3v Character Table

C3v

E

2C3

3sigmav

 

 

A1

1

1

1

Z

x2+y2,z2

aA1

MA1(E)

MA1(C3)

MA1(sv)

 

 

A2

1

1

-1

Rz

 

aA2

MA2(E)

MA2(C3)

MA2(sv)

 

 

E

2

-1

0

x,y

Rx,Ry

x2-y2,xy

xz,yz

aE

ME(E)

ME(C3)

ME(sv)

 

 

 

chi(R) = nu(R)*f(R) (1)

where

chi(R) => reducible representation for that symmetry operation

nu(R) => the number of atoms which remain unshifted after each symmetry operation, R, is performed.

f(R) => a value for character contributions for the symmetry operation

 

Xi(R) = d(R)*chi(R) (2)

where

Xi(R) => the value for each symmetry element

d(R) => the number of operations of the class of symmetry operation from the character table

 

Mi(R) = chi(R)*Xi(R) (3)

where

Mi(R) => molecular specific element

ai = 1/h*sumRMi(R) (4)

ai = 1/h*sumRchi(R)*Xi(R) (5)

where

ai => multiplier of the irreducible representation

h => the inverse of the order of the symmetry elements

 

E

C3

Sigmav

 

# unshifted atoms

nu(E)

nu(C3)

nu(sv)

nu(R)

times the character contribution

f(E)

f(C3)

f(sv)

f(R)

   

chii(E)

chii(C3)

chii(sv)

Chii(R)

times the number of operations of class

1

2

3

d(R)

   

Xi(E)

XI(C3)

Xi(sv)

Xi(R)

 

A1

A2

E

 
 

aA1

aA2

aE

Total spectral terms

-

1

1

2

less rotational and translational

 

vA1

vA2

vE

vibrational terms

 

IR-Raman

 

IR-Raman

 
 

vA1 + vE

IR active

vA1 + vE

Raman active

vA2 inactive vibration bands

Table 2. C3v Character Table

showing the Irreducible Representations

for NH3

C3v

E

2C3

3Fv

 

 

 

A1

1

1

1

z

x2+y2,z2

NH3

3

12

0

6

 

 

 

A2

1

1

-1

Rz

 

NH3

1

12

0

-6

 

 

 

E

2

-1

0

x,y

x2-y2,xy

NH3

4

24

0

0

Rx,Ry

xz,yz

 

E

C3

Sigmav

 

# unshifted atoms

4

1

2

nu(R)

times the character contribution

3

0

1

f(R)

 

 

12

0

2

Pi(R)

times the number of operations of the class

1

2

3

d(R)

 

 

12

0

6

Oi(R)

A1

A2

E

 

 

3

1

4

Total spectral terms

-

1

1

2

Less rotational and translational

 

2

0

2

Vibrational terms

 

IR-Raman

 

IR-Raman

 

 

4

IR active

4

Raman active

0 inactive bands

Table 3. Molecular Vibration Calculations

for SF4 with Td Symmetry

Td

E

8C3

3C2

6S4

6Fd

 

 

 

A1

1

1

1

1

1

 

x2+y3+z2

SF4

1

15

0

-3

-6

18

 

 

 

A2

1

1

1

-1

-1

 

 

SF4

0

15

0

-3

6

-18

 

 

 

E

2

-1

2

0

0

 

2z2-x2-y2

SF4

1

30

0

-6

0

0

 

x2-y2

 

T1

3

0

-1

1

-1

Rx,Ry,Rz

 

SF4

1

45

0

3

-6

-18

 

 

 

T2

3

0

-1

-1

1

x,y,z

xy,xz,yz

SF4

3

45

0

3

6

18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

5

2

1

1

3

# unshifted atoms

 

x

3

0

-1

-1

1

times the character contribution

 

 

15

0

-1

-1

3

 

 

 

x

1

0

3

6

6

times the number of operations of class

 

 

15

0

-3

-6

18

Xi(R)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A1

A2

E

T1

T2

 

 

SF4

 

1

0

1

1

3

Total Spectral Terms

 

-

 

 

 

1

1

less rotational and translational

 

 

1

0

1

0

2

Vibration

terms

 

 

 

 

 

 

IR

 

 

 

 

Raman

 

Raman

 

Raman

 

 

2 IR active bands 4 Raman active bands

0 inactive vibration bands

Table 4. Molecular Vibration Calculations

for SF4 with C2v Symmetry

C2v

E

C2

Fv

Fv'

 

 

 

A1

1

1

1

1

z

x2,y2,z2

SF4

5

15

-1

3

3

 

 

 

A2

1

1

-1

-1

Rz

xy

SF4

2

15

-1

-3

-3

 

 

 

B1

1

-1

1

-1

x,Ry

xz

SF4

4

15

1

3

-3

 

 

 

B2

1

-1

-1

1

y,Rx

yz

SF4

4

15

1

-3

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

1

3

3

# unshifted atoms

 

x

3

-1

1

1

times the character contribution

 

 

15

-1

3

3

 

 

 

x

1

1

1

1

times the number of operations of class

 

 

15

-1

3

3

Xi(R)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A1

A2

B1

B2

 

SF4

 

5

2

4

4

Total Spectral Terms

 

-

1

1

2

2

less rotational and translational

 

 

4

1

2

2

vibrational terms

 

 

IR

 

IR

IR

 

 

 

 

Raman

Raman

Raman

Raman

 

 

 

 

8 IR active

9 Raman active

 

 

The Questions for this Problem Set can be found at this link.

In answering the Questions, it is best to build a model of the suggested structure. You will then carry out the symmetry operations and observe how many atoms of the molecule move during a symmetry operation. These numbers are then typed into the spreadsheet. The spreadsheet then makes the group theory molecular vibration calculations and predicts the number IR and Raman active fundamental bands that your model should possess. Check those numbers against what you are told in the Problem Set. If they agree, then you observed the correct number of atoms moving for each symmetry operation. If they do not agree, recheck your model with each symmetry operation until you do get agreement.

Excel Spreadsheet Files

  • C2v Character Table
  • C3v Character Table
  • D3h Character Table
  • D4h Character Table
  • Td Character Table