Number of Vibrational Modes

• # different types of vibrations in an N atom molecule

  • linear molecule
    • 3N - 5
  • nonlinear molecule
    • 3N - 6

• Diatomic molecule

  (3 x 2) - 5 = 1 (stretching of bond)
  

• CO2

  • (3 x 3) - 6 = 4

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