Crystal structure of baylissite, K₂Mg(CO₃)₂,4H₂O

Abstract

The crystal structure of the title compound has been determined by X- ray diffraction at 295 K, and refined by full-matrix least squares to a residual of 0.045 for 1153 ?observed? reflections.     Crystal data: monoclinic, P2₁/n, a = 11.404(4), b = 6.228(2), c = 6.826(2) Ǻ, β = 99.66(2)°, Z = 2.     The environment of the magnesium atom, located on the inversion centre, is a compressed octahedron (Mg-O, 2.054(2), 2.093(2), 2.107(3) Ǻ). The environment of the potassium is abnormally sparse, there being only five K...O contacts < 3.0 Ǻ. The carbonate group is symmetrical (C-O, 1.282(4)-1.298(3); O-C-O,119.6(3)-120.4(2)°).