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Related Concept Videos

Symmetry Elements in a Crystal01:27

Symmetry Elements in a Crystal

Crystal symmetry operations are isometric transformations that map objects onto indistinguishable copies while preserving distances, angles, and volumes. The simplest symmetry operation is translation, which shifts the entire infinite crystal lattice parallelly by a translation vector.Crystallographic rotations involve rotations by an angle of 2π/n around an axis without changing the positions of points on the axis. It is called the rotational axis of the symmetry, denoted by n. The combination...
Determination of Crystal Structures01:29

Determination of Crystal Structures

In the late 1800s, the revelation that light extended beyond visible wavelengths led to the discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Roentgen. Recognized as high-energy electromagnetic radiation with short wavelengths, X-rays prompted exploration into their interaction with crystals. Max von Laue proposed in 1912 that the periodic arrangement of atoms, ions, or molecules in crystals would cause them to diffract X-rays, a hypothesis confirmed through experiments with copper sulfate and zinc sulfide...
X-ray Crystallography02:18

X-ray Crystallography

The size of the unit cell and the arrangement of atoms in a crystal may be determined from measurements of the diffraction of X-rays by the crystal, termed X-ray crystallography.
Diffraction
Diffraction is the change in the direction of travel experienced by an electromagnetic wave when it encounters a physical barrier whose dimensions are comparable to those of the wavelength of the light. X-rays are electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths about as long as the distance between neighboring...
Crystallographic Point Groups01:29

Crystallographic Point Groups

Crystallographic point groups represent the various symmetry operations that can occur within crystals. They are unique in that at least one point will always remain unchanged during these actions. For instance, consider the triclinic system. This system, devoid of any axis or plane of symmetry, aligns with the C1 and Ci point groups.where Cᵢ is characterized solely by a center of inversion.Contrastingly, the monoclinic system introduces an element of symmetry. This system with one plane and...
The Seven Crystal Systems: Overview01:24

The Seven Crystal Systems: Overview

Crystals with various point group symmetries belong to different crystal classes, which are synonymous terms. Despite being in the same class, crystals may have distinct shapes, like cubes and octahedra. There are 32 three-dimensional point groups, all of which are systematically divided into seven crystal systems.The basic cubic crystal system, exemplified by NaCl, features orthogonal vectors (α = β = �� = 90°) of equal lengths (a = b = c). When specific requirements are not imposed on the...
Imperfections in Crystal Structure: Point, Line and Plane Defects01:25

Imperfections in Crystal Structure: Point, Line and Plane Defects

A perfect crystal, in theory, has a uniform structure with the same unit cell and lattice points throughout. However, any deviation from this periodic arrangement is known as an imperfection or defect. These defects can be categorized into three types: point, line, and plane defects.Point defects occur when there is a deviation from the ideal due to missing atoms, displaced atoms, or additional atoms. These imperfections might occur due to imperfect packing during crystallization or because of...

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Complete online database of maximal subgroups of subperiodic groups at the Bilbao Crystallographic Server.

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Free tools for crystallographic symmetry handling and visualization.

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<i>SUBGROUPS</i>: a computer tool at the Bilbao Crystallographic Server for the study of pseudo-symmetric or distorted structures.

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Updated: Jun 12, 2026

On-Chip Crystallization and Large-Scale Serial Diffraction at Room Temperature
07:42

On-Chip Crystallization and Large-Scale Serial Diffraction at Room Temperature

Published on: March 11, 2022

Making symmetry visible: an interactive visualizer for teaching crystallography.

Gemma de la Flor1

  • 1Institute of Applied Geosciences, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany.

Acta Crystallographica. Section C, Structural Chemistry
|June 10, 2026
PubMed
Summary

The Jmol Space Group Symmetry Visualizer makes crystallographic symmetry easy to see, interact with, and share online. This tool enhances both learning and practical applications in crystallography.

Keywords:
JmolSpace Group Symmetry Visualizercrystallographic symmetryvisualization

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Modeling an Enzyme Active Site using Molecular Visualization Freeware
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Last Updated: Jun 12, 2026

On-Chip Crystallization and Large-Scale Serial Diffraction at Room Temperature
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Crystallization and In Situ Room Temperature Data Collection Using the Crystallization Facility at Harwell and Beamline VMXi, Diamond Light Source
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Crystallization and In Situ Room Temperature Data Collection Using the Crystallization Facility at Harwell and Beamline VMXi, Diamond Light Source

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Area of Science:

  • Crystallography
  • Structural Biology
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Crystallographic symmetry is fundamental to understanding crystal structures.
  • Visualizing and manipulating space group symmetry can be challenging with traditional methods.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce the Jmol Space Group Symmetry Visualizer, a novel tool for exploring crystallographic symmetry.
  • To provide an accessible, browser-based platform for interactive symmetry visualization.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a web-based application utilizing Jmol.
  • Integration of interactive controls for manipulating and visualizing space group symmetry elements.

Main Results:

  • The Jmol Space Group Symmetry Visualizer successfully renders and allows manipulation of space group symmetry in a browser.
  • The tool facilitates a more intuitive understanding of complex symmetry operations.

Conclusions:

  • The Jmol Space Group Symmetry Visualizer is a significant advancement for crystallographic education and research.
  • This tool enhances the accessibility and shareability of crystallographic symmetry information.