Classification of Point Groups

and Space Groups

into Crystal Systems

A set of coordinate axes must be attached to the origin in

a point group so that points in objects can be described
mathematically.

In crystallography we use
a right-handed coordinate
system defined by three
vectors at various angles
to each other.

Does symmetry impose any restrictions on the choice of

axis lengths or on the inter-axial angles? How about a
2-fold rotation parallel to c?

x 1 0 0 x
y 0 1 0 y
z 0 0 1 z
r xa yb zc

x x
y y
z
z
is transformed to:

r 2 001 r xa yb zc
xa yb zc

The object must be unchanged by the symmetry operation

and as a consequence, the dot product of any two
components of the original and transformed vector can be
equated to find any restrictions on the coordinate system.

xa zc xa zc
xz a c cos xz a c cos
cos cos

90

So a must be perpendicular to c! This is not surprising.

Consider the a axis itself operated on by the 2-fold. If
the axes arent perpendicular, a second a axis inclined to
the original would result.

A similar treatment of b and c gives the same requirement.

An examination of a and b yields:

xa yb xa yb
xz a b cos x z a b cos
cos cos
There is no restriction on .

How about a mirror perpendicular to c?

y y
z

r xa yb zc

1
0

0
1

0 1

is transformed to:

r m 001 r xa yb zc
xa yb zc

Mirror Perpendicular to c
xa zc xa zc
xz a c cos xz a c cos

90
xa yb xa yb
cos cos
No restriction on .

The presence of either a single 2-fold or mirror imposes

restrictions on the angles between coordinate axes. These
are then grouped into a single crystal system called
monoclinic.

Monoclinic
An object possessing a single 2-fold or mirror operator
giving rise to the following coordinate system:

abc
90

unrescricted
Note: Crystallographers normally take the 2-fold axis as b
rather than c ( unrestricted) and take to be obtuse.

What does a 4-fold rotation axis parallel to c require of the

coordinate system?

x
y
z

0 1
1 0

0 0

y
x
z

r xa yb zc

0
1

is transformed to:

r 4 001 r xa yb zc
ya xb zc

4-fold Parallel to c
xa yb ya xb
xy a b cos yx a b cos

90
Moreover, the 90 rotation means that +a must move to
+b, +b to a, etc. The interchange of x and y on the
transformation means that the lengths of a and b must
be identical.
These same rules apply to an S4 as well and these two
symmetry operators comprise a new system.

Tetragonal
The presence of a C4 or S4 gives rise to a crystal system
for which the coordinate axes are:

abc

90

The Seven Crystal Systems

Symmetry, Symmetry, Symmetry