Point Group Symmetry

We are delighted to have these honorable customers: Professor Viktor N. Serezhkin, Professor Peter C. Burns, Professor Christopher L. Cahill!

Check out these models of chemical molecules! The wide variety of models can be used for teaching and studying many aspects of chemistry, such as molecular structure, symmetry, valence, hybridization, aromaticity, conformational flexibility, coordination complexes, etc. A simple demonstration of the models of molecules is possible starting from the first classes in natural sciences for children, while the same models are essential for the explanation of complex concepts of chemistry to university students. The models are perfect for presentations and examinations in a classroom. They can be used for communicating science, public outreach or even as decorations of educational classrooms as well as any other kind of facility. One can glance through the list of chemical names of 59 available molecules below to get a hint of examples of relevant demonstrations and potential implementation into chemistry courses. There is no better way of getting in touch with molecules than to hold them in your hands!

The models are represented by molecules, which belong to 32 crystallographic and 10 noncrystallographic point groups. You can get one of the five preassembled sets with one click or select desired items individually.

You can choose among different types of versatile plastic, including colored plastic (monochromic, though). However, note, that white natural versatile plastic (the cheapest one) is totally ok for these models. One recommendation is to have two sets: the 42 item FULL set 3D printed in white plastic (as it is cheaper) for general practice (as the 42 item FULL set includes a few difficult to perceive example molecules), and the 17 item ALTERNATIVE set 3D printed in a different color with respect to other sets for taking exams (as it represents only the most common point groups and does not contain tricky molecules). This way you can easily distinguish the models between the sets and keep the 17 item set in secret for students until the time comes.

Some models represent molecules with untouched geometry obtained via X-ray experiment, while other models were slightly adapted for a clear representation of their symmetry (for example, positions of hydrogen atoms were corrected). Still, all the molecules are real except for model #41 of the snub dodecahedron representing the point group of symmetry I (235). As chemical elements are indistinguishable in the capped sticks representation, the models are picked so that the symmetry assigned on the basis of their geometry itself matches the real symmetry of the molecules. In several cases, multiple bonds and aromaticity are not represented in the models to maintain the correct symmetry. Some point groups are very rare and the corresponding molecules are big and, thus, material consuming and more expensive in production than the others.

Perfect for teaching and studying, fun for playing, cool for decorating!

If you have any ideas of improving the set – please, send me a message! Any feedback is highly appreciated!

Scale of all models: 7 mm/Å

BONUS: Scientific Christmas tree constructed of Voronoi-Dirichlet polyhedra and Hirshfeld surfaces – a very pleasant and unexpected surprise for Christmas and New Year! This Christmas tree is fancy and very unusual, though looks very festive and cute. Such an unexpected surprise will make you look very creative and will initiate good vibes and cheer up people - exactly what we need on holidays! The perfect example of science communication and public outreach *thumbs_up* See the Scientific Christmas tree section for more details.

Point group symbols in Schoenflies and Hermann–Mauguin notations and chemical names of molecules are provided below.

#1 C1 1 bromofluoroacetic acid
#2 Ci ≡ S2 -1 N,N′-(1,2-ethanediyl)bis(acetamide)
#3 C2 2 dibromo-octamethyl-biphenyl
#4 Cs m phenanthro(9,10-c)-1,2,5-thiadiazole-1-oxide
#5 C2h 2/m tetra-aqua-bis(9-methyladenine)-copper(II)
#6 D2 222 trans-bis(ethylenediamine)-dichloro-cobalt(III)
#7 C2v mm2 1,2-dibromobenzene
#8 D2h mmm naphtalene
#9 C4 4 tetrakis(μ2-cyclohexane-carbodithioato-S,S')-di-platinum(II)
#10 S4 ≡ C4i -4 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-cyclo-octa-cis,cis,cis,cis-1,3,5,7-tetraene
#11 C4h 4/m tetraazidocopper(II)
#12 D4 422 tetrathiacyclododecane
#13 C4v 4mm pentaborane(9)
#14 D2d -42m trans-dinitrato-tetrachloro-cerium(IV)
#15 D4h 4/mmm octachloro-di-rhenium
#16 C3 3 triphenylphosphine
#17 C3i ≡ S6 -3 hexakis(thiourea)bismuth(III)
#18 D3 32 tris(ethylenediamine)-cobalt(III)
#19 C3v 3m triquinacene
#20 D3d -3m 4,4′-di-iodobicubyl
#21 C6 6 alpha-cyclodextrin
#22 C3h -6 triimidazo-triazine
#23 C6h 6/m (1,2,3,4,5,6)cyclophane
#24 D6 622 hexanitrobenzene
#25 C6v 6mm (η6-hexamethylbenzene)-gallium(I)
#26 D3h -62m cyclopropane
#27 D6h 6/mmm benzene
#28 T 23 hexakis(tetrahydrofuran)-calcium
#29 Th m-3 hexa-aqua-cobalt(II)
#30 O 432 [V6P8O30] core in octakis(μ3-t-butylphosphonato)-hexaoxo-penta-vanadium(V)-vanadium(IV)
#31 Td -43m adamantane
#32 Oh m-3m cubane
#33 D4d -82m sulfur S8
#34 C5 5 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethyl-1’,2’,3’,4’,5’-pentaphosphaferrocene
#35 C5v 5m nitrosyl-(pentamethyl-cyclopentadienyl)-nickel
#36 C5h -10 pentamethyl­cyclopentadienyl
#37 D5 52 trans-bis(iodo)-pentakis(tetrahydrofuran-O)-ytterbium(III)
#38 D5d -5m ferrocene (staggered)
#39 D5h -10m2 ruthenocene (eclipsed)
#40 D6d -122m bis(η6-benzene)-chromium(I) (staggered)
#41 I 235 snub dodecahedron
#42 Ih m-3-5 buckminsterfullerene

Alternative set
#a1 C1 1 butan-2-ol
#a2 Ci ≡ S2 -1 (2R,3S)-tartaric acid
#a3 C2 2 (2S,3S)-tartaric acid
#a4 Cs m phenol
#a5 C2h 2/m 2,2'-bipyridine
#a6 D2 222 biphenyl
#a7 C2v mm2 phenantrene
#a8 D2h mmm tetrathiafulvalene
#a9 C4 4 cyclooctatetraene
#a10 S4 ≡ C4i -4 trans-dichloro-tetracarbonyl-osmium(II)
#a11 C4h 4/m trinitromethane
#a12 D4 422 tris(oxalato)-iron(III)
#a13 C4v 4mm methyl­cubane
#a14 D2d -42m dithionate anion
#a15 D4h 4/mmm pentacarbonyl iron
#a16 C3 3 phosphorus pentoxide
#a17 C3i ≡ S6 -3 hexahydroclosohexaborate anion