Links to relevant websites
Symmetry Resources at Otterbein College
This site, developed by Prof. Dean H. Johnston of Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio, is a wonderful place to start learning symmetry. The site includes explanations and demonstrations of the various symmetry elements as well as expanded information on symmetry applications in inorganic chemistry: crystal structure and optical isomers.
An educational program designed to visualize the symmetry elements of molecules and to animate the corresponding symmetry operations in an interactive 3D environment. The site includes a database of 48 organic and inorganic molecules, corresponding to all point groups of chemical interest. The site was developed by a group of scientists, educators and developers from the Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Symmetry in Chemistry - Group Theory
This site includes a concise explanation of symmetry elements and operations with examples of a limited number of linear, planar and three-dimensional molecules. A flowchart for determining the symmetry point group of a given molecule is also provided. The site was developed by Prof. James Tyrrell of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
This site includes a game that explains the basic principles of chirality. The site is the official website of the Nobel Prize Foundation. It was established after three scientists (William S. Knowles and Ryoji Noyori, and K. Barry Sharpless) won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2001 for their contribution to research in the field of catalysis using chiral molecules.
Character Tables for Point Groups
This site presents character tables for all the important point groups in chemistry.
This site deals with the physics of the various structures of ice crystals and snowflakes. The site was written by Prof. Kenneth G. Libbrecht of the California Institute of Technology - Caltech. In his laboratory, Prof. Libbrecht studies the growth and pattern formation of ice crystals.
CoSyM - Continuous Symmetry Measures
This site is a joint project of the Open University and the Hebrew University. It allows online calculation of continuous symmetry measures that determine the distance of a distorted molecule from perfect symmetry.