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Symmetry Lab › Td › Tetramethylsilane (TMS)

Si(CH₃)₄ Tetramethylsilane (TMS)

Central Si with four methyls · point group Td · order 24

Open Si(CH₃)₄ 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
Central Si with four methyls
Atoms
17 (Si, C × 4, H × 12)

Symmetry elements of Si(CH₃)₄

  • C₃ (1) — along one Si–C bond
  • C₃ (2) — along one Si–C bond
  • C₃ (3) — along one Si–C bond
  • C₃ (4) — along one Si–C bond
  • C₂ (x) — bisects two C–Si–C angles
  • C₂ (y) — bisects two C–Si–C angles
  • C₂ (z) — bisects two C–Si–C angles
  • S₄ (x) — rotate 90°, then reflect
  • S₄ (y) — rotate 90°, then reflect
  • S₄ (z) — rotate 90°, then reflect
  • σd (1) — contains two methyl carbons
  • σd (2) — contains two methyl carbons
  • σd (3) — contains two methyl carbons
  • σd (4) — contains two methyl carbons
  • σd (5) — contains two methyl carbons
  • σd (6) — contains two methyl carbons

Structure

  • Si–C 1.87 Å, C–H 1.09 Å
  • All angles 109.5°
  • The NMR reference: twelve equivalent H, four equivalent C
Tetramethylsilane (TMS) (Si(CH3)4) — Td symmetry elements
Tetramethylsilane (TMS): symmetry elements of the Td point group

Other Td molecules

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