| This free
web-based tutorial provides the student with
explanations and examples of symmetry elements
and makes extensive use of interactive Java
applets and flash animation to guide students
in seeing the symmetry elements in real molecules. The
Java applets provide images generated from
crystallographic databases that can be rotated
freely in real time. This interactive
feature allows students to explore the symmetry
of selected molecules and also to test their
own understanding. Mouse-over and other
flash animations also provide students with
a guided means to interpret symmetry elements
and how they are depicted. Each symmetry
element is discussed in turn with examples
and short self-tests that provide immediate
feedback to the student.
Point group determination is presented in
a straightforward conceptual way as well as
providing the more traditional flowchart. In
this part of the tutorial students are again
provided with interactive images of authentic
molecules representing examples from several
point groups. Finally, the uses of symmetry
are described.
Using the tutorial in a course
The discussion and flash animations regarding
the use of symmetry to understand spectroscopy
provides a conceptual foundation for students. The
discussion connects molecular vibrations to
the character table, but provides visual models
rather than a rigorous treatment of the topic. Thus,
it serves as a good introduction that can be
deepened in class discussion.
Acknowledgement
We would like to thank NSF grant #0121699
for partial funding of this project. We
would also like to thank our colleagues John
C. Huffman, John Bollinger, Eric Koperda, and
Leah Sandvoss for their helpful comments regarding
the tutorial. We especially want to acknowledge
Dr. Kate Reck for her help in bringing an early
version of the tutorial into her course and
her students for providing very useful feedback
to us (1).
Literature Cited
- Korkmaz, A. & Harwood,
W. S. J. Sci. Ed. & Tech.,
2004, 13, 243-253.
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