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Symmetry Lab › Oh › Uranium hexafluoride

UF₆ Uranium hexafluoride

Octahedral · point group Oh · order 48

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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
7 (U, F × 6)

Symmetry elements of UF₆

  • C₄ (x) — along a ligand–U–ligand line; also a C₂ and an S₄ axis
  • C₄ (y) — along a ligand–U–ligand line; also a C₂ and an S₄ axis
  • C₄ (z) — along a ligand–U–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 U and four ligands
  • σh (xz) — contains U and four ligands
  • σh (xy) — contains U and four ligands
  • σd (1) — contains U and two ligands
  • σd (2) — contains U and two ligands
  • σd (3) — contains U and two ligands
  • σd (4) — contains U and two ligands
  • σd (5) — contains U and two ligands
  • σd (6) — contains U 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

  • U–F 1.996 Å
  • F–U–F 90° and 180°
  • The volatile compound used for isotope enrichment
Uranium hexafluoride (UF6) — Oh symmetry elements
Uranium hexafluoride: symmetry elements of the Oh point group

Other Oh molecules

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