Point Group & Symmetry of Urea Molecule: Solution Explained

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In summary, the planar urea molecule has a point group of Cs and the symmetries of x,y and z are A' and A'' respectively. The equivalent sets of orbitals and their symmetries are undetermined and further information is needed.
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chemistry1902
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Problem: Consider the planar urea molecule.
i) Determine the point Group, as well as the symmetry of the x,y and z coordinates.
ii) Consider the following atomic orbitals:
C : 2s; 2p
N : 2s; 2p
O : 2s; 2p
H : 1s
Determine the equivalent sets of orbitals and the symmetry of each set.

Solution: i) Found the pointgroup to be Cs, and symmetry x,y = A' and z = A''.

Don't know how to tell which ones are equivalent and which symmetries they have.
Can someone please help?
 
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  • #2
Cs is too small. It has a higher symmetry. Which symmetry operations did you find?
To say something about the symmetry of x,y and z, you have to specify how they are oriented relative to the molecule.
 

Related to Point Group & Symmetry of Urea Molecule: Solution Explained

1. What is the point group of a urea molecule?

The point group of a urea molecule is C2v.

2. How many symmetry elements does a urea molecule have?

A urea molecule has a total of 7 symmetry elements: 2 C2 axes, 2 σv planes, and 3 σd planes.

3. What is the significance of the point group and symmetry of a molecule?

The point group and symmetry of a molecule provide important information about its physical and chemical properties. It can help predict its stability, reactivity, and spectroscopic behavior.

4. How can the symmetry of a molecule be determined?

The symmetry of a molecule can be determined by identifying its symmetry elements, such as axes, planes, and centers of symmetry, and applying the appropriate symmetry operations to generate equivalent positions. This can be done using tools such as molecular modeling software or by hand using a symmetry table.

5. Does the symmetry of a molecule affect its overall shape?

Yes, the symmetry of a molecule can affect its overall shape. Molecules with higher symmetry tend to have more compact and symmetrical shapes, while molecules with lower symmetry may have more distorted or asymmetrical shapes.

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