Symmetry Through the Eyes of a Chemist

This book surveys the entire field of chemistry from the point of view of symmetry. The book moves from the simplest symmetries using chemical and non-chemical examples to a discussion of molecular geometry in qualitative terms and of space group symmetries, including the symmetries of crystals. The authors provide the necessary group theory background for an appreciation of the symmetries of molecular vibrations, electronic structure and chemical reactions. The perception of symmetry held by most people is sufficient for reading most of the book. Many interesting and sometimes striking illustrations help the reader to grasp abstract ideas and notice more than meets the eye in the world around us.