Skip to content
Symmetry Lab4AB · ABC Chemistry

Symmetry Lab › Td › Tetrachlorozincate ion

[ZnCl₄]²⁻ Tetrachlorozincate ion

Tetrahedral · point group Td · order 24

Open [ZnCl₄]²⁻ in 3D →

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 (Zn, Cl × 4)

Symmetry elements of [ZnCl₄]²⁻

  • C₃ (1) — along one Zn–Cl bond
  • C₃ (2) — along one Zn–Cl bond
  • C₃ (3) — along one Zn–Cl bond
  • C₃ (4) — along one Zn–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 Zn and two ligands
  • σd (2) — contains Zn and two ligands
  • σd (3) — contains Zn and two ligands
  • σd (4) — contains Zn and two ligands
  • σd (5) — contains Zn and two ligands
  • σd (6) — contains Zn and two ligands

Structure

  • Zn–Cl 2.28 Å
  • Cl–Zn–Cl 109.5°
  • d¹⁰; colourless
Tetrachlorozincate ion ([ZnCl4]2-) — Td symmetry elements
Tetrachlorozincate ion: symmetry elements of the Td point group

Other Td molecules

P₄White phosphorusNH₄⁺Ammonium ionCCl₄Carbon tetrachlorideCrO₄²⁻Chromate ionCH₄MethaneOsO₄Osmium tetroxideClO₄⁻Perchlorate ionMnO₄⁻Permanganate ionPO₄³⁻Phosphate ionSiH₄SilaneSiF₄Silicon tetrafluorideSO₄²⁻Sulfate ion

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