Symmetry through the Eyes of a Chemist

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xii

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2. Introduction

   Pages 1-20

3. Simple and Combined Symmetries

   Pages 21-93

4. Molecules: Shape and Geometry

   Pages 95-161

5. Helpful Mathematical Tools

   Pages 163-206

6. Molecular Vibrations

   Pages 207-225

7. Electronic Structure of Atoms and Molecules

   Pages 227-287

8. Chemical Reactions

   Pages 289-335

9. Space-Group Symmetries

   Pages 337-380

10. Symmetries in Crystals

    Pages 381-461

11. Back Matter

    Pages 463-469

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We have been gratified by the warm reception of our book, by reviewers, colleagues, and students alike. Our interest in the subject matter of this book has not decreased since its first appearance; on the contrary. The first and second editions envelop eight other symmetry-related books in the creation of which we have participated: I. Hargittai (ed.), Symmetry: Unifying Human Understanding, Pergamon Press, New York, 1986. I. Hargittai and B. K. Vainshtein (eds.), Crystal Symmetries. Shubnikov Centennial Papers, Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1988. M. Hargittai and I. Hargittai, Fedezziikf6l a szimmetri6t! (Discover Sym- try, in Hungarian), Tank6nyvkiad6, Budapest, 1989. I. Hargittai (ed.), Symmetry 2: Unifying Human Understanding, Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1989. I. Hargittai (ed.), Quasicrystals, Networks, and Molecules of Fivefold Sym- try, VCH, New York, 1990. I. Hargittai (ed.), Fivefold Symmetry, World Scientific, Singapore, 1992. I. Hargittai and C. A. Pickover (eds.), Spiral Symmetry, World Scientific, Singapore, 1992. I. Hargittai and M. Hargittai, Symmetry: A Unifying Concept, Shelter Publi- tions, Bolinas, California, 1994. We have also pursued our molecular structure research, and some books have appeared related to these activities: vi Preface to the Second Edition I. Hargittai and M. Hargittai (eds.), Stereochemical Applications of Gas-Phase Electron Diffraction, Parts A and B, VCH, New York, 1988. R. Gillespie and I. Hargittai, VSEPR Model of Molecular Geometry, Allyn and Bacon, Boston, 1991. A. Domenicano and I. Hargittai (eds.), Accurate Molecular Structures, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1992.

• Chemical reaction
• chemistry
• crystal
• molecule
• reactions
• structure

`It is a stimulating book with a personal note. One reads it with pleasure. I can recommend it without any hesitation.'
Zeitschrift für Physikalische Chemie

`The book gives a fascinating overview of the rich variety of applications of symmetry throughout chemistry, showing both its power and its aesthetic appeal.'
Science, from a review of the First Edition

• Budapest Technical University and Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary

  István Hargittai

• Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary

  Magdolna Hargittai

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