Symmetry Lab › D2h › Aluminium chloride dimer
Al₂Cl₆ Aluminium chloride dimer
Bridged dimer, two perpendicular planes · point group D2h · order 8
- Point group
- D2h — A C2 principal axis, 2 perpendicular C2 axes and a horizontal mirror plane; these also give 2 vertical planes and a centre of inversion.
- Order
- 8
- Operations
- E, C₂(z), C₂(y), C₂(x), i, σ(xy), σ(xz), σ(yz)
- Shape
- Bridged dimer, two perpendicular planes
- Atoms
- 8 (Al × 2, Cl × 6)
Symmetry elements of Al₂Cl₆
- C₂ (z) — in the molecular plane
- C₂ (y) — perpendicular to the molecular plane
- C₂ (x) — in the molecular plane
- i — centre of inversion
- σ (xy) — perpendicular to the molecule
- σ (xz) — the plane of the molecule
- σ (yz) — perpendicular to the molecule
Structure
- Al–Cl terminal 2.06 Å, bridging 2.25 Å
- Terminal AlCl₂ planes perpendicular to the Al₂Cl₂ ring
- The species in the vapour below about 400 °C
