Point Group Character Tables, Molecular Motions, & Reducible Representation Reduction 5382 2021 Lect

Last time I discussed finding the Point Group for a molecule. Today we look at the Character Tables that go with each point group. We analyze the total motions of a molecule with an equation introduced in this video to produce the Reducible Representation that contains all the Irreducible Representations of each molecular motion. Then we decompose or reduce this reducible representation into the number of each type of irreducible representation (Mulliken labeled rows) in the character table. Lastly, we analyze which of these is translational motion, rotational motion, and vibrational motion. Next lecture we will produce the arrow diagrams for the vibrational motions using the projection operator. I hope this video helps you understand the power of symmetry and group theory in analyzing molecular motions. Share, like, and subscribe if you have benefitted from these lectures. -DW Background These are videos of Dr. Williams’ CHEM Physical Chemistry Lectures at Sam Houston State University. They are provided for your benefit for studying if you are a student or for your curiosity if you are not a student. This course is the Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy Course. DW teaches this course in a unique way with emphasis on the spectroscopy of the 1D Particle in a Box system and the early introduction of symmetry for interpreting spectroscopic results. Find out more at Dr. Williams’ about page: https://pchem4all.com/about