Symmetry Lab › D4h › Tetrachloroaurate(III) ion
[AuCl₄]⁻ Tetrachloroaurate(III) ion
Square 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 planar
- Atoms
- 5 (Au, Cl × 4)
Symmetry elements of [AuCl₄]⁻
- C₄ — perpendicular to the plane; also C₂ and S₄
- C₂′ (x) — through two opposite ligands
- C₂′ (y) — through the other two
- C₂″ (1) — in the plane, between ligands
- C₂″ (2) — in the plane, between ligands
- i — centre of inversion
- σh — the plane of the ion
- σᵥ (xz) — contains the axis and two ligands
- σᵥ (yz) — contains the axis and the other two
- σd (1) — contains the axis, between ligands
- σd (2) — contains the axis, between ligands
- S₄ — rotate 90°, then reflect in σh
Structure
- Au–Cl 2.28 Å
- Cl–Au–Cl 90° and 180°
- d⁸ Au(III); charge −1
![Tetrachloroaurate(III) ion ([AuCl4]-) — D4h symmetry elements](/molecular-symmetry/infographics/AuCl4-_TetrachloroaurateIIIion_D4h.png)
Other D4h molecules
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