Symmetry Lab › Td › White phosphorus
P₄ White phosphorus
Tetrahedron of atoms · 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
- Tetrahedron of atoms
- Atoms
- 4 (P × 4)
Symmetry elements of P₄
- C₃ (1) — through one P atom
- C₃ (2) — through one P atom
- C₃ (3) — through one P atom
- C₃ (4) — through one P atom
- C₂ (x) — through the midpoints of two opposite P–P bonds
- C₂ (y) — through the midpoints of two opposite P–P bonds
- C₂ (z) — through the midpoints of two opposite P–P bonds
- S₄ (x) — rotate 90°, then reflect
- S₄ (y) — rotate 90°, then reflect
- S₄ (z) — rotate 90°, then reflect
- σd (1) — contains two P atoms
- σd (2) — contains two P atoms
- σd (3) — contains two P atoms
- σd (4) — contains two P atoms
- σd (5) — contains two P atoms
- σd (6) — contains two P atoms
Structure
- P–P 2.21 Å
- P–P–P 60° (strained)
- One lone pair on each P, pointing outwards
