The preparation and structure of chain and sheet mercury compounds Journal Articles uri icon

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abstract

  • This paper is a review of the preparation and structures of the polymercury cationsHg32+andHg32+, the mercury chain compounds, Hg3-δAsF6, Hg3-δSbF6, Hg3-δNbF6and Hg3_δTaF6, and the mercury layer compounds Hg3NbF6and Hg3TaF6. The chain compounds Hg3-δMF6are hard, golden yellow insoluble crystals with a shiny metallic appearance that have linear chains of mercury atoms parallel to theaandbaxes of a tetragonal cell. They are non-stoichiometric because the Hg-Hg distance is not com mensurate with the tetragonal lattice ofAsF6−octahedra. The layer compounds have a silver colour with a distinct metallic lustre, but they are quite soft. They have sheets of hexagonally close-packed mercury atoms separated by a layer ofNbF6−orTaF6−octahedra. In contrast to the chain compounds the layer compounds are stoichiometric. The interconversion of the chain and layer compounds is described and discussed.

publication date

  • May 30, 1985