Dr.

Kamni Pathania
School of Physics
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University
Katra-182320
Jammu.

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 LECTURE
CRYSTAL SYMMETRY
CENTRE OF SYMMETRY
PLANE OF SYMMETRY
AXES OF SYMMETRY
ABSENCE OF 5 FOLD SYMMETRY
ROTOINVERSION AXES
SCREW AXES
GLIDE PLANE

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 CRYSTAL SYMMETRY

It is observed that the repetition of an object (or a lattice point) by

a translation leaves the environment around that object (or lattice
point ) unchanged.
In an extended array such as atomic pattern of a crystal,
symmetries involving translation, rotation, reflection, inversion or
their combinations are found to occur.
The characteristic feature of these symmetries is that the
translation operation repeats an object infinite number of times,
while other operations such as rotation, reflection, inversion or their
combination) repeats it only finite number of times.

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 CRYSTAL SYMMETRY

Operations like translation or proper rotation leaves the

“motif” (a fundamental group of atoms or molecules)
unchanged .
whereas operations like reflections, inversion or improper
rotation change the character of the motif from the left handed
one to a right handed one and vice versa.
Geometrical locus about which a group of finite operations act
is known as ‘Symmetry Element’.

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 CRYSTAL SYMMETRY
Crystals have inherent symmetry.
The definite ordered arrangement of the faces
and edges of a crystal is known as `crystal
symmetry’.
It is a powerful tool for the study of the internal
structure of crystals.
Crystals possess different symmetries or
symmetry elements.
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 CRYSTAL SYMMETRY

What is a symmetry operation ?

A `symmetry operation’ is one, that leaves
the crystal and its environment invariant.
It is an operation performed on an object or pattern
which brings it to a position which is absolutely
indistinguishable from the old position.

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 SYMMETRY ELEMENT

The geometrical locus about which a group of finite

operations act is called as “symmetry element”.
A line normal to the page about which a rotation
takes place, the plane about which the reflection
occurs and the centre about which the inversion
takes place are simple examples of symmetry
elements and are called, a rotation axis, a reflection
or a mirror plane and an inversion centre, resp.

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 CRYSTAL SYMMETRY

The seven crystal systems are characterized by

three symmetry elements. They are

Centre of symmetry

Planes of symmetry

Axes of symmetry.

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 CENTRE OF SYMMETRY

This is a symmetry operation similar to reflection, with the

difference that reflection occurs in a plane of mirror, while
inversion is equivalent to reflection through a point called
Inversion centre.
It is a point such that any line drawn through it will meet the
surface of the crystal at equal distances on either side.
Since centre lies at equal distances from various symmetrical
positions it is also known as `centre of inversion’.
It is equivalent to reflection through a point.

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 CENTRE OF SYMMETRY

A Crystal may possess a number of planes or

axes of symmetry but it can have only one centre
of symmetry.
For a unit cell of cubic lattice, the point at the
body centre represents’ the `centre of
symmetry’ and it is shown in the figure.

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CENTRE OF SYMMETRY

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CENTRE OF SYMMETRY

Two objects related by a center of symmetry

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 PLANE OF SYMMETRY

A crystal is said to have a plane of symmetry, when

it is divided by an imaginary plane into two halves,
such that one is the mirror image of the other.

In the case of a cube, there are three planes of

symmetry parallel to the faces of the cube and six
diagonal planes of symmetry

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PLANE OF SYMMETRY

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Hands and molecular models related through a mirror plane (m)
perpendicular to the drawing plane

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 AXIS OF SYMMETRY

This is an axis passing through the crystal such that if

the crystal is rotated around it through some angle,
the crystal remains invariant.
The axis is called `n-fold, axis’ if the angle of rotation
360
is Ф=
n

If equivalent configuration occurs after rotation of

180º, 120º and 90º, the axes of rotation are known as
two-fold, three-fold and four-fold axes of symmetry
respectively.
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 AXIS OF SYMMETRY

If equivalent configuration occurs after rotation of 180º,

120º and 90º, the axes of rotation are known as two-
fold, three-fold and four-fold axes of symmetry .
If a cube is rotated through 90º, about an axis normal to
one of its faces at its mid point, it brings the cube into
self coincident position.
Hence during one complete rotation about this axis, i.e.,
through 360º, at four positions the cube is coincident
with its original position.Such an axis is called four-fold
axes of symmetry or tetrad axis.

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 AXIS OF SYMMETRY

If n=1, the crystal has to be rotated through an angle =

360º, about an axis to achieve self coincidence. Such an
axis is called an `identity axis’. Each crystal possesses an
infinite number of such axes.

If n=2, the crystal has to be rotated through an angle =

180º about an axis to achieve self coincidence. Such an
axis is called a `diad axis’.Since there are 12 such edges in
a cube, the number of diad axes is six.

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 AXIS OF SYMMETRY

If n=3, the crystal has to be rotated through an

angle = 120º about an axis to achieve self
coincidence. Such an axis is called is `triad
axis’. In a cube, the axis passing through a
solid diagonal acts as a triad axis. Since there
are 4 solid diagonals in a cube, the number of
triad axis is four.
If n=4, for every 90º rotation, coincidence is
achieved and the axis is termed `tetrad axis’.
It is discussed already that a cube has `three’
tetrad axes.
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 AXIS OF SYMMETRY

If n=6, the corresponding angle of rotation is

60º and the axis of rotation is called a hexad
axis. A cubic crystal does not possess any
hexad axis.

Crystalline solids do not show 5-fold axis of

symmetry or any other symmetry axis higher
than `six’, Identical repetition of an unit can take
place only when we consider 1,2,3,4 and 6 fold
axes.

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SYMMETRICAL AXES OF CUBE

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 SYMMETRICAL ELEMENTS OF CUBE

(a) Centre of symmetry 1

(b) Planes of symmetry 9
(Straight planes -3,Diagonal planes -6)
(c) Diad axes 6
(d) Triad axes 4
(e) Tetrad axes 3
----
Total number of symmetry elements = 23
----
Thus the total number of symmetry elements of a cubic structure is
23.

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 ABSENCE OF 5 FOLD SYMMETRY

We have seen earlier that the crystalline solids show only

1,2,3,4 and 6-fold axes of symmetry and not 5-fold axis of
symmetry or symmetry axis higher than 6.
The reason is that, a crystal is a one in which the atoms or
molecules are internally arranged in a very regular and
periodic fashion in a three dimensional pattern, and
identical repetition of an unit cell can take place only
when we consider 1,2,3,4 and 6-fold axes.

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 MATHEMATICAL VERIFICATION

Let us consider a lattice P Q R S as shown in figure

 

P Q R
S
a a a

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 MATHEMATICAL VERIFICATION

Let this lattice has n-fold axis of symmetry and the

lattice parameter be equal to ‘a’.
Let us rotate othe vectors Q P and R S through an
360
angle  = n , in the clockwise and anti clockwise
directions respectively.
After rotation the ends of the vectors be at x and y.
Since the lattice PQRS has n-fold axis of symmetry,
the points x and y should be the lattice points.

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 MATHEMATICAL VERIFICATION

Further the line xy should be parallel to the line PQRS.

Therefore the distance xy must equal to some integral
multiple of the lattice parameter ‘a’ say, m a.
i.e., xy = a + 2a cos  = ma (1)

Here, m = 0, 1, 2, 3, ..................

From equation (1),

2a cos  = m a – a

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 MATHEMATICAL VERIFICATION

i.e., 2a cos  = a (m - 1)

(or) cos  = m 1 N (2)


2 2
Here,
N = 0, 1, 2, 3, .....

since (m-1) is also an integer, say N.

We can determine the values of  which are allowed
in a lattice by solving the equation (2) for all values
of N.

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 MATHEMATICAL VERIFICATION

For example, if N = 0, cos  = 0 i.e.,  = 90o

 n = 4.
In a similar way, we can get four more rotation axes
in a lattice, i.e., n = 1, n = 2, n = 3, and n = 6.
Since the allowed values of cos  have the limits –1
to +1, the solutions of the equation (2) are not
possible for N > 2.
Therefore only 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 fold symmetry axes
can exist in a lattice.

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 ROTATION AXES ALLOWED IN A
LATTICE
 3600 
N N/2 cos  (degrees) n=  
  
-2 -1 -1 180 2
-1 -1/2 -1/2 120 3
0 0 0 90 4
+1 +1/2 +1/2 60 6
+2 +1 +1 360 (or) 0 1

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 ROTO INVERSION AXES

There exist two improper rotations i.e., rotoinversion and

rotoreflection
Rotation inversion axis is a symmetry element which
has a compound operation of a proper rotation and
an inversion.
A crystal structure is said to possess a rotation –
inversion axis if it is brought into self coincidence by
rotation followed by an inversion about a lattice point
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 ROTO INVERSION AXES

X1

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 ROTO INVERSION AXES

Let us consider an axis xx, normal to the circle passing

through the centre.
Let it operates on a point (1) to rotate it through 90o to the
position (4) followed by inversion to the position (2), this
compound operation is then repeated until the original
position is again reached.

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 ROTO INVERSION AXES

Thus, from position (2), the point is rotated a further 90o

and inverted to the position (3); from position (3), the point
is rotated a further 90o and inverted to a position (4); from
position (4), the point is rotated a further 90o and inverted
to resume position (1).
Thus if we do this compound operation about a point four
times, it will get the original position. This is an example
for 4-fold roto inversion axis. Crystals possess 1,2,3,4
and 6-fold rotation inversion axes.

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 TRANSLATIONAL SYMMETRY
SCREW AXES
This symmetry element has a compound operation of
a proper rotation with a translation parallel to the
rotation axis
This is shown in the figure.In this operation, a rotation
takes place from A to B by an amount of  and it
combines with a translation from B to C by an amount
of T, which is equivalent to a screw motion from A to C.
The symmetry element that corresponds to such a
motion is called a screw axis.

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TRANSLATIONAL SYMMETRY
SCREW AXES

θ
A
B

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 TRANSLATIONAL SYMMETRY
SCREW AXES

θ
A
B

A screw axis consists of a rotation followed Twofold screw axis.

by a translation

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 TRANSLATIONAL SYMMETRY
GLIDE PLANE
This symmetry element also has a compound
operation of a reflection with a translation parallel
to the reflection plane.
Figure shows the operation of a glide plane
If the upper layer of atoms reflected and then moved
through a distance of a/2, the lower plane of atoms is
generated.

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 TRANSLATIONAL SYMMETRY
GLIDE PLANE

m m1

a/2

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 TRANSLATIONAL SYMMETRY
GLIDE PLANE

m m1

a/2

Glide plane

A glide plane consists of a reflection followed by a translation

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Glide planes are noted by a, b or c, depending
on which axis the glide is along.

There is also the n glide, which is a glide along

the half of a diagonal of a face, and the d glide,
which is along a fourth of either a face or space
diagonal of the unit cell.

The latter is often called the diamond glide

plane as it features in the diamond structure

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 COMBINATION OF SYMMETRY
ELEMENTS

Symmetry elements are interlinked to each other and are not

independent. A given symmetry element can be obtained
from
suitable combinations of other symmetry elements.

Apart from the different symmetry elements different

combinations of the basic symmetry elements are also
possible.
They give rise to different symmetry points in the
crystal.

The combination of symmetry elements at a point is

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 A point group in the lattice is defined as the
collection of symmetry operations which when
applied about a lattice point, leave the lattice
invariant.

In point groups all possible symmetry elements must pass

through a point.

Crystals belonging to different crystal systems show different

point group symmetries and therefore the classification of
crystal systems can be easily made on the basis of point
groups.

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 COMBINATION OF SYMMETRY
ELEMENTS

In crystals, 32 point groups are possible.

The combination of 32 point groups with 14

Bravais lattices lead to 230 unique
arrangements of points in space.

They are called as `space groups’.

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Here dots represent equivalent points.

Point group 1 has no symmetry

elements and hence the single isolated
point has no other point equivalent to it.

For 1m, there is a mirror plane, one dot

on reflection across the mirror plane
becomes the second dot.

PH 0101 UNIT 4 LECTURE 3 45

With a 2-fold axis 2, a rotation of π
takes one dot into the other.

With 2-fold axis and one mirror

plane there is automatically a
second mirror plane normal to the
first and thus we have the point
group 2mm with 4 equivalent points.
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•Information about a crystal structure is
complete only when its point group and space
group are both known.

•Concept of space group arises on the

realization of the translational symmetry
present in crystalline structures.

•Translational symmetry element does not

figure in the list of symmetry elements of a
point group where all symmetry operations
are performed at a point in the crystal lattice.

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•A crystal is regarded to have been constructed
by translating its basis through vectors of the
respective Bravais lattice.

• The complete array thus obtained is symbolized

by a space group which in addition to having the
translational symmetry elements contains all the
elements of the respective point group.

•Since the symmetry of the basis, in general, may

not be spherical, the total number of possible
space groups turns out to be far more than what
one might guess.

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•There are in all 230 space groups in 3D Crystals.

•For any crystal system all possible crystal structures are

characterized by different space groups, obtained by
introducing a basis with symmetries of each of the point groups
of the system into each of the Bravais lattices.

•For e.g., there are 5 point groups and three Bravais Lattices
(P,C,F) for a cubic system. So five different symmetries for the
basis are possible in any case.

•With these possibilities of symmetry for the basis in each of

the three Bravais Lattices, 15 different crystal structures can be
produced represented by 15 different space groups. This
illustrates in principle how all possible 230 space groups can be
derived.

PH 0101 UNIT 4 LECTURE 3 49

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