Symmetry 1.0

This is a completely new module with Instructor/Tutorial Versions integration and allows for Lecture Notes. It is still in a very early stage of development, but the workings of the VRML scripts and JavaScripts has been proven.

To use this module, a VRML 2.0 browser plug-in needs to be installed in the web browser. We have tested our module with the WorldView and Cosmoplayer plug-in, and have been able to write the scripts so that both of the plug-ins will be able to display the material properly.

Instructor Version

In order to provide maximum flexibility in its use at different levels of complexity, it is characterized by a minimum of words, and by a structure that allows the contents of the module to be used in a variety of orders.

The main starting point is a screen with only the menu's, listed below, available. Selection of a working item of the menu will display the information in a frame below the menu. Most currently working items are in the Symmetry Elements and Point Groups menus. These lead to VRML 2.0 interactive 'worlds' that show molecules that have the symmetry elements or point group in question. The symmetry elements are represented and can be clicked on in order to start an animation of that particular symmetry operation.

The items under Stereochemistry and Configuration are still in a very early stage or non-working, but we feel that the animation of the single symmetry elements can be very useful already.

The following menus are available:

• Symmetry Elements
  • Plane of Symmetry
  • Center of Symmetry
  • C2 Axis
  • C3 Axis
  • C4 Axis
  • C5 Axis
  • C6 Axis
  • S2 Axis
  • S3 Axis
  • S4 Axis
• Stereochemistry
  • Chiral
  • Achiral
  • Meso
  • - Isomers - (just a separator)
  • Constitutional
  • Enantiomers
  • Diastereomers
  • - optics - (just a separator )
  • Active
  • Inactive
  • Racemic
• Configuration
  • (R)
  • (S)
  • cis
  • trans
  • (E)
  • (Z)
  • syn
  • anti
• Point Groups
  • C1
  • C4
  • S4
  • C4v
  • C4h
  • Td

At this point in time we are considering splitting this module up in a Symmetry module only, with the first three menus, which is more geared towards Organic chemistry and General Chemistry, and a separate Module on point groups with the first and last menu list.

Tutorial Version

The tutorial version is currently very limited in it's explanation.