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EQUATIONS FOR SYMMETRY AXES AND

SYMMETRY PLANES
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EQUATION OF SYMMETRY AXIS

• If line is passing through (x1, y1, z1)
and (x2, y2, z2), what is its equation?
𝐴: 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 , 𝑧1 = 1,0, 12 (1,1,1)
𝐵: 𝑥2 , 𝑦2 , 𝑧3 = 0,1, 12
Z A(?,?,?) B(?,?,?)

(0,0,0)
Y
𝑥−1 𝑦−0 𝑧 − 12
= =
0−1 1−0 1
− 1 X
2 2
− 𝑥−1 =𝑦 𝑥+𝑦 =1 𝑧 = 12 What is the equation of this
diad axis of symmetry?
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EQUATION OF SYMMETRY AXIS

• If line is passing through (x1, y1, z1)
and (x2, y2, z2), what is its equation? B(?,?,?)

𝐴: 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 , 𝑧1 = 1,0,0 (1,1,1)
Z
𝐵: 𝑥2 , 𝑦2 , 𝑧3 = 0,1,1

Y
(0,0,0)
X
𝑥 −1 𝑦−0 𝑧−0 A(?,?,?)
= =
0−1 1−0 1−0
𝑥+𝑦 =1
− 𝑥−1 =𝑦 = 𝑧ሽ 𝑦=𝑧 What is the equation of this
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triad axis of symmetry?
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EQUATION OF SYMMETRY AXIS

• If line is passing through (x1, y1, z1)
and (x2, y2, z2), what is its equation?
𝐴: 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 , 𝑧1 = 1 1 B(?,?,?)
2, 2, 0
1 1 Z
𝐵: 𝑥2 , 𝑦2 , 𝑧3 = 2, 2, 1
(1,1,1)

Y
(0,0,0)
X
1
𝑥 = 12 𝑦= 2 A(?,?,?)

What is the equation of this

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tetrad axis of symmetry?
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EQUATION OF SYMMETRY PLANE

• Equation of plane through:
• (x1, y1, z1), (x2, y2, z2) and (x3, y3, z3)

What is the equation of this

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symmetry plane?
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0, 0, 1 0, 1, 1

1, 0, 1 1, 1, 1
A
C Identify any three points in the plane with its
coordinates.

B 0, 0, 0 0, 1, 0 A: 0, 1, 12 B: 1, 0, 12 C: 0, 0, 12

1, 0, 0 1, 1, 0

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1 1
𝑧− −1 = 0 𝑧=
2 2

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EQUATION OF SYMMETRY PLANE

• Equation of plane through:
• (x1, y1, z1), (x2, y2, z2) and (x3, y3, z3)

(1,1,1)

(0,0,0)

What is the equation of this

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symmetry plane?
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0, 0, 1 0, 1, 1

1, 0, 1 1, 1, 1
B Identify any three points in the plane with its
coordinates.

C A A: 0, 1, 0 B: 1, 1, 1 C: 0, 0, 0
0, 0, 0 0, 1, 0

1, 0, 0 1, 1, 0

𝑥 0 + 1 − 𝑦 − 1 0 + 𝑧 −1 = 0
Y
𝑥−𝑧 =0
X
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Mahesh Shetti, Wilson College

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(-½, ½, 0) (½, ½, 0)
FCC: XY PLANE (0, ½,½)

Red arrow show atoms in the XY

planes (hence all of them have z
coordinate 0)
(½,0,½)
Violet arrows show atom in the plane (-½,0, ½)
above that (hence all of them have z
coordinate ½)

(-½, -½, 0) (½, -½, 0)

(0,-½,½)

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(0, -½, ½) (0,½, ½)

FCC: YZ PLANE (½,0,½)

Red arrow show atoms in the YZ

planes (hence all of them have x
coordinate 0)
(½,½,0)
Violet arrows show atom in the plane (½,-½,0)
above that (hence all of them have x
coordinate ½)

(0, -½, -½) (0, ½, -½)

(½,0,-½)

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(½,0,½) (-½,0,½)
(0,½,½)

FCC: XZ PLANE
Red arrow show atoms in the XZ
planes (hence all of them have y
coordinate 0) (-½,½,0)
(½,½,0)
{Note that x coordinates here
increase towards left)
Violet arrows show atom in the plane
above that (hence all of them have
y coordinate ½) (½,0,-½) (-½,0, -½)
(0,½,-½)

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FCC: BY CHANGING THE ANGLE OF VIEW

Three planes with
4 atoms one on
top of other
around the atom
at origin.
(½,0,½) (0, ½, ½)

(½,0,½) (0, ½, ½)

(½,½,0)

(½,½,0)
Three planes with:
3 at the bottom, 3 on top and 6 atoms in the
central layer around the atom at origin.

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FCC: THE TOP AND BOTTOM LAYERS

HAVE DIFFERENT ORIENTATIONS

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openstax?qcr=www.quizover.com&page=2

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