A Simple Procedure for Point Group Classification Some time ago Orchin and Jaffel published an extremely useful series of resource papers on symmetry, point groups, and character tables which laid the basis for understanding symmetry and classifying point groups. Other flow charts have also been devised,Z but these either do not proceed to each individual point group during the process of classification (a grouping of point groups is arrived at, from which the classifier must choose one based an his own knowledge of point group symmetry), or proceed to each individual point group in a complicated fashion. During the course of a series of lectures on symmetry and point groups, it became necessary to devise, far the sake of the students with a wide diversity of backgrounds, a simple but reliable procedure that would enable a person with a basic knowledge of symmetry to deduce rapidly the specific point group of any given compound. The accompanying flaw chart is th; result.
Soma Chemicals and Their Point Groups Higher Symmetry Point G o Exam~le
Lower Symmetry Point Group
Ar H-C- C-H H-C=N BI?H~+SFa oetamethylcubane [Ca(NOdaI2CH' (CHa)4C [methyl g r o u p slightly ratatadl
Example bnzene chair cyeloherane trons-[Co(HaO)
