Point group symmetry

Point group symmetry describes the specific ways an object can be rotated or flipped so it looks the same as it did initially. These include rotations around an axis, reflections across a plane, or inversions through a point. Each set of symmetry operations defines a point group, which characterizes the object’s overall symmetry. In molecules, understanding point group symmetry helps in predicting properties like reactivity and spectral features. Essentially, point group symmetry provides a systematic way to categorize shapes based on their symmetrical features, reflecting how an object remains unchanged under certain spatial transformations.