Answer to Question #102197 in Chemistry for Megha

Question

Show that a two fold axis of symmetry is present in water molecule.

Answer 1

Water has two of them: one in the plane of the molecule itself and one perpendicular to it. A third type of symmetry plane exists: If a vertical symmetry plane additionally bisects the angle between two 2-fold rotation axes perpendicular to the principal axis, the plane is dubbed dihedral (σd).