Acta Cryst. (2007). E63, i172  [ doi:10.1107/S1600536807036355 ]

The high-temperature modification of magnesium sulfate (-MgSO₄) from single-crystal data

M. Weil

Abstract: Single crystals of the high-temperature modification of magnesium sulfate, -MgSO₄, were obtained from chemical transport reactions with Cl₂ as transport agent. The redetermination of the crystal structure confirms the previous powder study [Coing-Boyat (1962). C. R. Acad. Sci. 258, 1962-1964], but with higher precision and more reliable interatomic distances. The title compound crystallizes in the CuSO₄ structure type (space group Pnma) and is isotypic with other first-row metal sulfates of the type M^IISO₄ (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Zn). The Mg²⁺ cation is surrounded by six O atoms in a distorted octahedral [2+2+2] coordination ( symmetry). By edge-sharing, [MgO_4/2O_2/1] chains are established parallel to [010] which are linked into a framework by corner sharing with slightly distorted SO₄ tetrahedra (m symmetry).

Online 27 July 2007

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