Symmetry Elements and Operations

All molecules can be described in terms of their symmetry. Molecules may contain symmetry elements (point, line, plane). Reflection, rotation, and inversion are symmetry operations (movement of the molecules such that after the movement, all the atoms of the molecules is coincidental with equivalent atom of the molecule in original).

Exact correspondence in position of several points, parts of a figure or a body with respect to a dividing line, plane or point.

Table of Elements and Operations
Element	Operation	Symbol
Identity	Identity	E
Symmetry plane	Reflection in the plane	σ
Inversion center	Inversion of a point x,y,z to -x,-y,-z	i
Proper axis	Rotation by (360/n)^o	C_n
Improper axis	1. Rotation by (360/n)^o 2. Reflection in plane perpendicular to rotation axis	S_n

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