Symmetry Lab › Td › Tetrachlorocobaltate(II) ion
[CoCl₄]²⁻ Tetrachlorocobaltate(II) ion
Tetrahedral · point group Td · order 24
- Point group
- Td — The full symmetry of a regular tetrahedron: four C3 axes, three C2 axes (each also an S4 axis) and six dihedral mirror planes. There is no centre of inversion.
- Order
- 24
- Operations
- E, 8C₃, 3C₂, 6S₄, 6σd
- Shape
- Tetrahedral
- Atoms
- 5 (Co, Cl × 4)
Symmetry elements of [CoCl₄]²⁻
- C₃ (1) — along one Co–Cl bond
- C₃ (2) — along one Co–Cl bond
- C₃ (3) — along one Co–Cl bond
- C₃ (4) — along one Co–Cl bond
- C₂ (x) — bisects two bond angles; also an S₄ axis
- C₂ (y) — bisects two bond angles; also an S₄ axis
- C₂ (z) — bisects two bond angles; also an S₄ axis
- S₄ (x) — rotate 90°, then reflect
- S₄ (y) — rotate 90°, then reflect
- S₄ (z) — rotate 90°, then reflect
- σd (1) — contains Co and two ligands
- σd (2) — contains Co and two ligands
- σd (3) — contains Co and two ligands
- σd (4) — contains Co and two ligands
- σd (5) — contains Co and two ligands
- σd (6) — contains Co and two ligands
Structure
- Co–Cl 2.27 Å
- Cl–Co–Cl 109.5°
- The intense blue tetrahedral Co(II)
![Tetrachlorocobaltate(II) ion ([CoCl4]2-) — Td symmetry elements](/molecular-symmetry/infographics/CoCl42-_TetrachlorocobaltateIIion_Td.png)