Molecular Vibrations Are Not Asymmetric

Abstract

There is considerable confusion when naming vibrations in infrared and Raman spectra. One of the most common errors is the identification of some stretching and bending vibrations as “asymmetric”. There are no asymmetric vibrations as such vibrations incur rotations and translations. The correct term is antisymmetric and it is demonstrated, through molecular symmetry operations, why this is the correct term.

Keywords

Infrared spectra interpretation Raman spectra interpretation vibrational nomenclature

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References

G. Herzberg. “Molecular Spectra and Molecular Structure. II. Infrared and Raman Spectra of Polyatomic Molecules”. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1945. P. 83.