Access the Teaching Symmetry Software

From the NUS Home Page, select Resources Teaching & Learning NUS Libraries. In the Search for Database/E-Journal/E-Book Title text box type Journal of Chemical Education without the quotes and hit enter. Select Journal of Chemical Education. You will need to register if you are using J. Chem. Ed. for the first time (make sure you do so that our library gets a good idea of the importance of this journal and doesnt cancel its subscription!) Once you are registered you will receive a username (yes it has a space in it) and password which then allows you full access to the journal. Now that you have the username and password select the following link below to use J. Chem. Ed. symmetry program: 3D MolSym it uses Macromedias Shockwave, so youll need to download the plug-in (for free) if you dont have it already.

Using 3D MolSym
Load 3d MolSym On the right-hand-side (RHS) under Molecules choose the first one, Acetone. These are pre-made molecules for you to work with. Hold the left mouse button down anywhere in the picture of acetone and drag the mouse around to see the molecule from different angles. On the RHS of the panel, in the bottom corner there is something called the Elements Selection of which all the symmetry elements for the molecule chosen are listed in the text box. For acetone there are 3, C2, mirror planes present in the molecule. o You can permanently display the axis or plane by selecting the check box to the left of the element.
v(a)

v(b)

o Mouse over the elements to see the C2 rotation axis and the different

o By selecting a specific symmetry element (choose

v(a)

) two things

happen (a) the check box becomes selected and the axis or plane is shown (b) the line containing the symmetry element becomes highlighted in lightyellow. o Now move to the middle of the panel and you will see a Play button:

o Adjust the speed slider to the slowest possible like mine in case your computer is so fast and you dont notice what happens. o Press the Play button to animate the symmetry operation. Notice the ghost image of the original configuration of the molecule as the animation progresses. The symmetry operation will take the molecule exactly back to this original position . o Select different symmetry elements, observe them and animate them. o Adjust the angle you view the molecule so you can better see some of the operations. o Play with the software and check out some of the molecules. Some neat molecules are there, and if your computer is slow, it may take quite some while for them to load, e.g., Dodecahedrane. Note that other information about the molecule is provided at the bottom of the panel under the play button including the point group of the molecule.