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Symmetry Lab › D3h › Antimony pentachloride

SbCl₅ Antimony pentachloride

Trigonal bipyramidal · point group D3h · order 12

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Point group
D3h — A C3 principal axis, 3 perpendicular C2 axes and a horizontal mirror plane; these also give 3 vertical planes.
Order
12
Operations
E, 2C₃, 3C₂, σh, 2S₃, 3σᵥ
Shape
Trigonal bipyramidal
Atoms
6 (Sb, Cl × 5)

Symmetry elements of SbCl₅

  • C₃ — perpendicular to the plane of three Cl atoms
  • C₂ (1) — along one equatorial Sb–Cl bond
  • C₂ (2) — along one equatorial Sb–Cl bond
  • C₂ (3) — along one equatorial Sb–Cl bond
  • σh — the plane of the three equatorial Cl atoms
  • σᵥ (1) — contains the C₃ axis and one equatorial bond
  • σᵥ (2) — contains the C₃ axis and one equatorial bond
  • σᵥ (3) — contains the C₃ axis and one equatorial bond
  • S₃ — rotate 120°, then reflect in σh

Structure

  • Sb–Cl equatorial 2.29 Å, axial 2.34 Å
  • Cl(eq)–Sb–Cl(eq) 120°
  • No lone pair on Sb
Antimony pentachloride (SbCl5) — D3h symmetry elements
Antimony pentachloride: symmetry elements of the D3h point group

Other D3h molecules

Open in the 3D lab →  ·  All D3h molecules  ·  All point groups