Abstract:

The conception of point group of molecules is one of the core contents in chapter of molecular symmetry of structural chemistry course. It is also one of the basic theories to understand the strucutral symmetry of molecules and the relationship between their structures and molecular properties. Therefore, it is of importance to master the identification method of point group of molecules based on their symmetric elements in structures. This paper compared the identification processes of point group of molecules in different structural chemistry textbooks, discussed potential imperfections of classic identification process of point group of molecules, and proposed a modified identification process of point group of molecules, which could help undergradute and graduate students to know and understand the intention of point group of molecules.

Key words: Structural chemistry, Molecular symmetry, Point group of molecule, Molecular model