Reflectionmirror planeenantiomorphic operations

ssss1 Two‐ and three‐dimensional motifs that illustrate the concept of reflection across a plane of mirror symmetry (m). (a) Mirror image of the letter “R”. (b) Bilateral symmetry of a butterfly; the two halves are nearly, but not quite, perfect mirror images of each other.

Source: Image from butterflywebsite.com. © Mikula Web Solutions.

One test for the existence of a mirror plane of symmetry is that all components of the motifs on one side of the plane are repeated at equal distances on the other side of the plane along projection lines perpendicular to the plane. If this is not true, the plane is not a plane of mirror symmetry.

Inversioncenter of inversion (i)

ssss1 Inversion through a center of symmetry (i) illustrated by the letter “m” repeated by inversion through a center (inversion point).

One test for the existence of a center of symmetry is that all the components of a pattern are repeated along straight lines that pass through a common center and are repeated at equal distances from that center. If this is not the case, the pattern does not possess a center of symmetry.