): A rotation followed by a reflection through a perpendicular plane. 2. Point Groups
): Passing every atom through a center point to the opposite side. Improper Rotation ( Sncap S sub n
A vibration must change polarizability (matches quadratic terms like
) that show if a property stays the same or flips sign during an operation. 4. Chemical Applications
A vibration must change the molecule's dipole moment (matches in the character table).
Only orbitals of the same symmetry can overlap to form bonds. This is the basis of SALCs (Symmetry Adapted Linear Combinations). Vibrational Spectroscopy:
