Symmetry Lab › D2d › Ethylene, perpendicular (rotation transition state)
C₂H₄ (90° twisted) Ethylene, perpendicular (rotation transition state)
Two perpendicular CH₂ planes · point group D2d · order 8
- Point group
- D2d — A C2 principal axis, 2 perpendicular C2 axes and 2 dihedral mirror planes that bisect them; the principal axis is also an S4 axis.
- Order
- 8
- Operations
- E, 2S₄, C₂, 2C₂′, 2σd
- Shape
- Two perpendicular CH₂ planes
- Atoms
- 6 (C × 2, H × 4)
Symmetry elements of C₂H₄ (90° twisted)
- C₂ — along the C–C bond
- S₄ — rotate 90° about C–C, then reflect
- C₂′ (1) — perpendicular to C–C, between the CH₂ planes
- C₂′ (2) — perpendicular to C–C, between the CH₂ planes
- σd (1) — the plane of one CH₂
- σd (2) — the plane of the other CH₂
Structure
- The π bond is broken at 90°
- About 270 kJ/mol above planar ethylene
- Shown to contrast D2d with the planar D2h form
