Chemical Applications of Symmetry and Group Theory

As the structure and behavior of molecules and crystals depend on their different symmetries, group theory becomes an essential tool in many important areas of chemistry. It is a quite powerful theoretical tool to predict many basic as well as some characteristic properties of molecules. Whereas quantum mechanics provide solutions of some chemical problems on the basis of complicated mathematics, group theory puts forward these solutions in a very simplified and fascinating manner.

Group theory has been successfully applied to many chemical problems. Students and teachers of chemical sciences have an invisible fear from this subject due to the difficulty with the mathematical jugglery. An active sixth dimension is required to understand the concept as well as to apply it to solve the problems of chemistry. This book avoids mathematical complications and presents group theory so that it is accessible to students as well as faculty and researchers.

Chemical Applications of Symmetry and Group Theory discusses different applications to chemical problems with suitable examples. The book develops the concept of symmetry and group theory, representation of group, its applications to I.R. and Raman spectroscopy, U.V spectroscopy, bonding theories like molecular orbital theory, ligand field theory, hybridization, and more. Figures are included so that reader can visualize the symmetry, symmetry elements, and operations.

Rakshit Ameta, PhD, is Associate Professor of Chemistry, PAHER University, Udaipur, India. He has several years of experience in teaching and research in　chemistry as well as industrial chemistry and polymer science. He is presently guiding seven research students for their PhD theses, and several students have already obtained their PhDs under his supervision in green chemistry.　Dr. Rakshit Ameta has received various awards and recognition in his career, including being awarded first position and the gold medal for his MSc and receiving the Fateh Singh Award from the Maharana Mewar Foundation, Udaipur, for his meritorious performance. He has served at M. L. Sukhadia University, Udaipur; the University of Kota, Kota; and PAHER University, Udaipur. He has over 80 research publications to his credit in journals of national and international repute. He holds one patent, and two more are under way. Dr. Rakshit has organized several national conferences as Organizing Secretary at the University of Kota and PAHER University. He has delivered invited lectures and has chaired sessions in conferences held by the Indian Chemical Society and the Indian Council of Chemists. Dr. Rakshit was elected as council member of the Indian Chemical Society, Kolkata (2011-2013) and Indian Council of Chemists, Agra (2012-2014) as well as　Associate Editor, Physical Chemistry Section (2014-16) of Indian Chemical Society. Recently, Dr. Rakshit has been elected as Scientist-in-Charge in the Industrial and Applied Chemistry Section of Indian Chemical Society for three years (2014-2016).　He has written five degree-level books and has contributed chapters to books published by several international publishers.　He has published two previous books with Apple Academic Press: 　Green Chemistry: Fundamentals and Applications　(2014) and　Microwave-Assisted Organic Synthesis: A Green Chemical Approach　(2015), and his forthcoming books include Solar Energy Conversion and Storage　and　Photocatalysis　with Taylor and Francis.　His research areas focus on wastewater treatment, photochemistry, green chemistry, microwave-assisted reactions, environmental chemistry, nanochemistry, solar cells, and bioactive and conducting polymers.

Suresh C. Ameta, PhD, is currently Dean, Faculty of Science at PAHER University, Udaipur. He has served as Professor and Head of the Department of Chemistry at North Gujarat University Patan (1994) and at M. L. Sukhadia University, Udaipur (2002-2005), and as Head of the Department of Polymer Science (2005-2008). He also served as Dean of Postgraduate Studies. Prof. Ameta has held the position of President, Indian Chemical Society, Kotkata, and is now a life-long Vice President. He was awarded a number of prestigious awards during his career, such as national prizes twice for writing chemistry books in Hindi; he received the Prof. M. N. Desai Award, the Prof. W. U. Malik Award, the National Teacher Award, the Prof. G. V. Bakore Award, a Life Time Achievement Award by Indian Chemical Society, etc. With more than 350 research publications to his credit in journals of national and international repute, he is also the author of many undergraduate- and postgraduate-level books.　He has published two books with Apple Academic Press,　Microwave-Assisted Organic Synthesis: A Green Chemical Approach　and　Green Chemistry: Fundamentals and Applications, 　and has two in production now with Taylor and Francis: 　Solar Energy Conversion and Storage　and　Photocatalysis: Principles and Applications. He has also written chapters in books published by several international publishers. Prof. Ameta has delivered lectures and chaired sessions at national conferences throughout India and is a reviewer of number of international journals. In addition, he has completed five major research projects from different funding agencies, such as DST, UGC, CSIR, and Ministry of Energy, Govt. of India.