Symmetry Lab › D4h › Cyclobutane, planar form
C₄H₈ (planar) Cyclobutane, planar form
Square ring (idealised planar) · point group D4h · order 16
- Point group
- D4h — A C4 principal axis, 4 perpendicular C2 axes and a horizontal mirror plane; these also give 4 vertical planes and a centre of inversion.
- Order
- 16
- Operations
- E, 2C₄, C₂, 2C₂′, 2C₂″, i, 2S₄, σh, 2σᵥ, 2σd
- Shape
- Square ring (idealised planar)
- Atoms
- 12 (C × 4, H × 8)
Symmetry elements of C₄H₈ (planar)
- C₄ — perpendicular to the ring
- C₂′ (x) — through two opposite carbons
- C₂′ (y) — through the other two
- C₂″ (1) — through two opposite bond midpoints
- C₂″ (2) — through the other two bond midpoints
- i — centre of inversion
- σh — the plane of the ring
- σᵥ (xz) — contains the axis and two carbons
- σᵥ (yz) — contains the axis and the other two
- σd (1) — contains the axis, through two bond midpoints
- σd (2) — contains the axis, through two bond midpoints
- S₄ — rotate 90°, then reflect
Structure
- C–C 1.55 Å
- C–C–C 90°
- The real ring is slightly puckered (D2d); the planar form is the transition state between the two puckers
Other D4h molecules
[Pt(NH₃)₄]²⁺ (N atoms shown)Tetraammineplatinum(II) ion[AuCl₄]⁻Tetrachloroaurate(III) ion[ICl₄]⁻Tetrachloroiodate(III) ion[PdCl₄]²⁻Tetrachloropalladate(II) ion[PtCl₄]²⁻Tetrachloroplatinate(II) ion[BrF₄]⁻Tetrafluorobromate(III) ionXeF₄Xenon tetrafluoridetrans-[CoCl₂(NH₃)₄]⁺trans-Tetraamminedichlorocobalt(III) (N atoms shown)C₄H₄²⁻Cyclobutadiene dianion (planar)[Ni(CN)₄]²⁻Tetracyanonickelate(II) ion[Pt(CN)₄]²⁻Tetracyanoplatinate(II) ion[Re₂Cl₈]²⁻Octachlorodirhenate(III) ion