32 Crystallographic Point Groups

Point Groups
The 32 crystallographic point groups (point groups consistent
with translational symmetry) can be constructed in one of two
ways:
1. From 11 initial pure rotational point groups, inversion
centers can be added to produce an additional 11
centrosymmetric point groups. From the centrosymmetric
point groups an additional 10 symmetries can be
discovered.
2. The Schoenflies approach is to start with the 5 cyclic
groups and add or substitute symmetry elements to
produce new groups.
Cyclic Point Groups
5
( )
1
1 C
( )
2
2 C
( )
3
3 C
( )
4
4 C
( )
6
6 C
Cyclic + Horizontal Mirror Groups
+5 = 10
( )
h
C m
1
( )
h
C
m
2
2
( )
h
C
m
3
3
( )
h
C
m
4
4
( )
h
C
m
6
6
Cyclic + Vertical Mirror Groups
+4 = 14
( )
v
C m
1
( )
v
C mm
2
2
( )
v
C m
3
3
( )
v
C mm
4
4
( )
v
C mm
6
6
( )
h
C m
1
Rotoreflection Groups
( )
1
2 S
( )
2
1 S
( )
3
6 S
( )
4
4 S
( )
6
3 S
( )
h
C m
1
( )
h
C
m
3
3
+3 = 17
17 of 32?
Almost one-half of the 32 promised point groups are
missing. Where are they?
We have not considered the combination of rotations with
other rotations in other directions. For instance can two
2-fold axes intersect at right angles and still obey group
laws?
The Missing 15
Combinations of Rotations
Moving Points on a Sphere
Moving Points on a Sphere
o, |, = "throw" of axis
i.e. 2-fold has 180 throw
Euler
2
sin
2
sin
2
cos
2
cos
2
cos
cos
| o
| o
+
=
|
.
|

\
|
.
AB
Investigate: 180, 120, 90, 60
Possible Rotor Combinations
Allowed Combinations of Pure Rotations
Rotations + Perpendicular 2-folds
Dihedral (D
n
) Groups
( )
2
222 D
( )
3
32 D
( )
4
422 D
( )
6
622 D
+4 = 21
Dihedral Groups + o
h
( )
h
D mmm
2
( )
h
D m
3
2 6
( )
h
D mm
m
4
4
( )
h
D mm
m
6
6
+4 = 25
Dihedral Groups + o
d
( )
d
D m
2
2 4
( )
d
D m
3
3
?
4d
D ?
6d
D
m 2 8
m 2 12
+2 = 27
Isometric Groups
Roto-Combination with no Unique Axis
T Groups
( ) T 23
( )
h
T m3 ( )
d
T m 3 4
+3 = 30
T Groups
O Groups
( ) O 432
( )
h
O m m3
+2 = 32
O Groups
Flowchart for Determining Significant
Point Group Symmetry