CIF required items

This page lists the data items that are required for a single-crystal study. For a list of items to include in a powder diffraction study, please click here.

Detailed descriptions of these data items are given in the core CIF dictionary [see also Hall et al. (1991). Acta Cryst. A47, 655-685].

New names listed below are flagged with (new) and in some cases are followed by old names [in regular type and flagged with (old)] which are accepted but will be discontinued in the future. Authors may also include other data items in the CIF (see the two _publ_manuscript_incl_extra_ entries towards the end of the list) provided their data names are also listed in the _publ_contact_letter text.

Text items  
_publ_contact_author_name Contact author's name
_publ_contact_author_address Contact author's address
_publ_contact_author Contact author's name and address (old)
_publ_contact_author_email E-mail address to be published
_publ_contact_author_fax For editorial communications
_publ_contact_author_phone For editorial communications
_publ_contact_letter Letter of submission, with date
_publ_requested_journal 'Acta Crystallographica Section C'
_publ_requested_category Publication choice (FI FM FO CI CM CO AD)
_publ_section_title Title of paper
_publ_section_title_footnote Footnote to title of paper
_publ_author_name List of author(s) name(s)
_publ_author_footnote Footnote(s) to author(s) name(s)
_publ_author_address Author(s) address(es)
_publ_section_synopsis Synopsis for compounds that cannot be shown as a chemical diagram. Not required for Acta Cryst. Section E.
_publ_section_abstract Abstract of paper in English
_publ_section_comment Discussion of study
_publ_section_acknowledgements Acknowledgements
_publ_section_references References
_publ_section_figure_captions Lege nds to figures
Experimental data (machine and author generated)  
_publ_section_exptl_prep Compound preparation details
_chemical_formula_sum Chemical formula as sum of elements
_chemical_formula_moiety Chemical formula in moieties
_chemical_formula_weight Chemical formula mass (Da)
_chemical_melting_point Melting point (K) (new)
_symmetry_cell_setting Code for cell setting
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M Space-group symbol, including unique axis
_symmetry_equiv_pos_as_xyz Equivalent positions in order used by _geom_
_cell_length_a
_cell_length_b
_cell_length_c
Unit-cell lengths (Å)
_cell_angle_alpha
_cell_angle_beta
_cell_angle_gamma
Unit-cell angles (°)
_cell_volume Unit-cell volume (Å3)
_cell_formula_units_Z Number of formulae per unit cell
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn Density calculated from unit cell and contents (Mg m-3)
_exptl_crystal_density_meas Density measured experimentally (Mg m-3)
_exptl_crystal_density_method Method used to measure density exp erimentally
_diffrn_radiation_type Radiation type (e.g. neutron or Mo Ktex2html_wrap_inline30)
_diffrn_radiation_wavelength Radiation wavelength (Å)
_cell_measurement_reflns_used Number of reflections used to measure unit cell
_cell_measurement_theta_min Minimum tex2html_wrap_inline68 of reflections used to measure unit cell (°)
_cell_measurement_theta_max Maximum tex2html_wrap_inline68 of reflections used to measure unit cell (°)
_cell_measurement_temperature Measurement temperature (K)
_exptl_absorpt_coefficient_mu Linear absorption coefficient (mm-1)
_exptl_crystal_description Crystal habit description
_exptl_crystal_size_max Maximum dimension of crystal (mm)
_exptl_crystal_size_mid Medial dimension of crystal (mm)
_exptl_crystal_size_min Minimum dimension of crystal (mm)
_exptl_crystal_size_rad Radius of spherical or cylindrical crystal (mm)
_exptl_crystal_colour Crystal colour
_diffrn_measurement_device_type Diffractometer make and type
_diffrn_measurement_device Diffractometer make and type (old)
_diffrn_measurement_method Mode of intensity measurement and scan
_diffrn_detector_area_resol_mean Resolution of area detector (pixels mm-1)
_exptl_absorpt_correction_type Code for absorption correction
_exptl_absorpt_process_details Literature reference for absorption correction [e.g. '(North et al., 1968)']
_exptl_absorpt_correction_T_min Minimum transmission factor from corrections
_exptl_absorpt_correction_T_max Maximum transmission factor from corrections
_diffrn_reflns_number Total number of reflections measured
_reflns_number_total Number of symmetry-independent reflections
_reflns_number_gt Number of reflections > tex2html_wrap_inline74 threshold
_reflns_number_observed Number of `observed' reflections (old)
_reflns_threshold_expression tex2html_wrap_inline74 expression for F, F2 or I threshold
_reflns_observed_criterion tex2html_wrap_inline74 expression for `observed' F, F2 or I threshold ( old)
_diffrn_reflns_theta_max Maximum tex2html_wrap_inline68 of measured reflections (°)
_diffrn_reflns_theta_full tex2html_wrap_inline68 to which available reflections are `complete' (°)
_diffrn_measured_fraction_theta_max Fraction of unique reflections measured to tex2html_wrap_inline68max
_diffrn_measured_fraction_theta_full Fraction of unique reflections measured to tex2html_wrap_inline68full
_diffrn_reflns_av_R_equivalents< /td> R factor for symmetry-equivalent intensities
_diffrn_reflns_limit_h_min
_diffrn_reflns_limit_h_max
Minimum/maximum h index of measured data
_diffrn_reflns_limit_k_min
_diffrn_reflns_limit_k_max
Minimum/maximum k index of measured data
_diffrn_reflns_limit_l_min
_diffrn_reflns_limit_l_max
Minimum/maximum l index of measured data
_diffrn_standards_number Number of standards used in measurement
_diffrn_standards_interval_count
_diffrn_standards_interval_time
(alternate)
Number of measurements between standards
Time (min) between standards
_diffrn_standards_decay_% Percentage decrease in standards intensity
_refine_ls_structure_factor_coef Code for F, F2 or I used in least-squares refinement
_refine_ls_R_factor_gt R factor of F for reflections > threshold
_refine_ls_R_factor_obs R factor of F for `observed' reflections (old)
_refine_ls_wR_factor_ref R factor of coefficient for refinement reflections
_refine_ls_wR_factor_obs R factor of coefficient for `observed' reflections (old)
_refine_ls_goodness_of_fit_ref Goodness of fit S for refinement reflections
_refine_ls_goodness_of_fit_obs Goodness of fit S for `observed' reflections (old)
_refine_ls_number_reflns Number of reflections used in refinement
_refine_ls_number_parameters Number of parameters refined
_refine_ls_weighting_scheme Code for weight type
_refine_ls_weighting_details Weighting expression
_refine_ls_hydrogen_treatment Code for H-atom treatment
_refine_ls_shift/su_max Maximum shift/s.u. ratio after final refinement cycle
_refine_ls_shift/esd_max Maximum shift/e.s.d. ratio after final refinement cycle (old)
_refine_diff_density_max
_refine_diff_density_min
Maximum/minimum values of final difference map (e Å-3)
_refine_ls_extinction_method Description of extinction methods applied
_refine_ls_extinction_coef Extinction coefficient applied in corrections
_refine_ls_abs_structure_details Absolute structure method and Friedel-pair number
_refine_ls_abs_structure_Flack
_refine_ls_abs_structure_Rogers
(alternate)
Measure of absolute structure
Measure of absolute structure
_publ_section_exptl_refinement Special details of the refinement
_computing_data_collection Reference to data-collection software
_comput ing_cell_refinement Reference to cell-refinement software
_computing_data_reduction Reference to data-reduction software
_computing_structure_solution Reference to structure-solution software
_computing_structure_refinement Reference to structure-refinement software
_computing_molecular_graphics Reference to visualization software
_computing_publication_material Reference to publication preparation software
loop_  
_atom_type_symbol Atom type symbol (usually element symbol)
_atom_type_description Description of atom type
_atom_type_scat_source Reference to scattering factors applied
_atom_type_scat_dispersion_real Real anomalous-dispersion value applied
_atom_type_scat_dispersion_imag Imaginary anomalous-dispersion value applied
loop_  
_atom_site_label Unique label identifying the atom site
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
Fractional coordinates of atom site
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv Isotropic atomic displacement parameter, or equivalent from anisotropic atomic displacement parameters
_atom_site_occupancy Occupancy fraction for site (default is 1.0)
_atom_site_disorder_a ssembly Code that identifies functional group suffering disorder
_atom_site_disorder_group Code that identifies disorder group
_atom_site_adp_type Atomic displacement parameter type
_atom_site_thermal_displace_type Atomic displacement parameter type (old)
loop_  
_atom_site_aniso_label Unique label identifying the atom site
_atom_site_aniso_U_11
_atom_site_aniso_U_22
_atom_site_aniso_U_33
_atom_site_aniso_U_12
_atom_site_aniso_U_13
_atom_site_aniso_U_23
Elements of anisotropic atomic displacement parameter tensor
loop_  
_geom_bond_atom_site_label_ 1
_geom_bond_atom_site_label_2
Labels identifying the atom sites 1 and 2
_geom_bond_site_symmetry_1
_geom_bond_site_symmetry_2
Symmetry codes (e.g. 2_554) for atom sites 1 and 2
_geom_bond_distance Distance between atom sites 1 and 2 (Å)
_geom_bond_publ_flag Flag for print request (yes or no)
loop_  
_geom_angle_atom_site_label_1
_geom_angle_atom_site_label_2
_geom_angle_atom_site_label_3
Labels identifying the atom sites 1, 2 and 3
_geom_angle_site_symmetry_1
_geom_angle_site_symmetry_2
_geom_angle_site_symmetry_3
Symmetry codes for atom sites 1, 2 and 3
_geom_an gle Angle between atom sites 1, 2 and 3 (°)
_geom_angle_publ_flag Flag for print request (yes or no)
loop_  
_geom_torsion_atom_site_label_1
_geom_torsion_atom_site_label_2
_geom_torsion_atom_site_label_3
_geom_torsion_atom_site_label_4
Labels identifying the atom sites 1, 2, 3 and 4
_geom_torsion_site_symmetry_1
_geom_torsion_site_symmetry_2
_geom_torsion_site_symmetry_3
_geom_torsion_site_symmetry_4
Symmetry codes for atom sites 1, 2, 3 and 4
_geom_torsion Torsion angle between atom sites 1, 2, 3 and 4 (°)
_geom_torsion_publ_flag Flag for print request (yes or no)
loop_  
_geom_hbond_atom_site_label_D Donor-atom label in hydrogen bond
_geom_hbond_atom_site_label_H H-atom label in hydrogen bond
_geom_hbond_atom_site_label_A Acceptor-atom label in hydrogen bond
_geom_hbond_site_symmetry_D Symmetry code for donor site
_geom_hbond_site_symmetry_H Symmetry code for H-atom site
_geom_hbond_site_symmetry_A Symmetry code for acceptor site
_geom_hbond_distance_DH Donor atom-to-H-atom distance (Å)
_geom_hbond_distance_HA H-atom-to-acceptor atom distance (Å)
_geom_hbond_distance_DA Donor atom-to-acceptor atom distance (Å)
_geom_hbond_angle_DHA Donor to H to acceptor angle (°)
_geom_hbond_publ_flag Flag for print request (yes or no)
Author requested items  
loop_  
_publ_manuscript_incl_extra_item Additional CIF item submitted for publication
_publ_manuscript_incl_extra_defn Is item defined in Core dictionary? (yes or no)
Structure-factor lists should be submitted as separate files  
loop_  
_refln_index_h
_refln_index_k
_refln_index_l
Miller indices h, k and l
_refln_F_meas
_refln_F_squared_meas
(alternate)
Measured F
Measured F2
_refln_F_sigma
_refln_F_squared_sigma
(alternate)
Standard uncertainty of F
Standard uncertainty of F2
_refln_F_calc
_refln_F_squared_calc
(alternate)
Calculated F
Calculated F2