Skip to content
Symmetry Lab4AB · ABC Chemistry

Symmetry Lab › Oh › Molybdenum hexacarbonyl

Mo(CO)₆ Molybdenum hexacarbonyl

Octahedral · point group Oh · order 48

Open Mo(CO)₆ in 3D →

Point group
Oh — The full symmetry of a regular octahedron or cube: three C4 axes, four C3 axes, six C2 axes, a centre of inversion and nine mirror planes.
Order
48
Operations
E, 8C₃, 6C₂′, 6C₄, 3C₂, i, 6S₄, 8S₆, 3σh, 6σd
Shape
Octahedral
Atoms
13 (Mo, C × 6, O × 6)

Symmetry elements of Mo(CO)₆

  • C₄ (x) — along a ligand–Mo–ligand line; also a C₂ and an S₄ axis
  • C₄ (y) — along a ligand–Mo–ligand line; also a C₂ and an S₄ axis
  • C₄ (z) — along a ligand–Mo–ligand line; also a C₂ and an S₄ axis
  • C₃ (1) — through the centres of two opposite faces; also an S₆ axis
  • C₃ (2) — through the centres of two opposite faces; also an S₆ axis
  • C₃ (3) — through the centres of two opposite faces; also an S₆ axis
  • C₃ (4) — through the centres of two opposite faces; also an S₆ axis
  • C₂′ (1) — bisects two right angles
  • C₂′ (2) — bisects two right angles
  • C₂′ (3) — bisects two right angles
  • C₂′ (4) — bisects two right angles
  • C₂′ (5) — bisects two right angles
  • C₂′ (6) — bisects two right angles
  • i — centre of inversion
  • σh (yz) — contains Mo and four ligands
  • σh (xz) — contains Mo and four ligands
  • σh (xy) — contains Mo and four ligands
  • σd (1) — contains Mo and two ligands
  • σd (2) — contains Mo and two ligands
  • σd (3) — contains Mo and two ligands
  • σd (4) — contains Mo and two ligands
  • σd (5) — contains Mo and two ligands
  • σd (6) — contains Mo and two ligands
  • S₄ (x) — rotate 90°, then reflect
  • S₄ (y) — rotate 90°, then reflect
  • S₄ (z) — rotate 90°, then reflect
  • S₆ (1) — rotate 60°, then reflect
  • S₆ (2) — rotate 60°, then reflect
  • S₆ (3) — rotate 60°, then reflect
  • S₆ (4) — rotate 60°, then reflect

Structure

  • Mo–C 2.06 Å, C≡O 1.14 Å
  • C–Mo–C 90° and 180°
  • 18-electron complex
Molybdenum hexacarbonyl (Mo(CO)6) — Oh symmetry elements
Molybdenum hexacarbonyl: symmetry elements of the Oh point group

Other Oh molecules

[Co(NH₃)₆]³⁺ (N atoms shown)Hexaamminecobalt(III) ion[Fe(H₂O)₆]³⁺ (O atoms shown)Hexaaquairon(III) ion[PtCl₆]²⁻Hexachloroplatinate(IV) ion[AlF₆]³⁻Hexafluoroaluminate ion[SbF₆]⁻Hexafluoroantimonate ionPF₆⁻Hexafluorophosphate ionSiF₆²⁻Hexafluorosilicate ionSeF₆Selenium hexafluorideSF₆Sulfur hexafluorideUF₆Uranium hexafluoride[B₆H₆]²⁻closo-Hexahydridohexaborate ionCr(CO)₆Chromium hexacarbonyl

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