Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026

High Pressure Single Crystal Diffraction at PX^2
Published on: January 16, 2017
Redetermination of the borax structure from laboratory X-ray data at 145 K
Graeme J Gainsford1, Tim Kemmitt, Caleb Higham
1Industrial Research Limited, PO Box 31-310, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
Abstract:
THE TITLE COMPOUND, SODIUM TETRABORATE DECAHYDRATE (MINERAL NAME: borax), Na(2)[B(4)O(5)(OH)(4)]·8H(2)O, has been studied previously using X-ray [Morimoto (1956). Miner. J.2, 1-18] and neutron [Levy & Lisensky (1978). Acta Cryst. B34, 3502-3510] diffraction data. The structure contains tetra-borate anions [B(4)O(5)(OH)(4)](2-) with twofold rotation symmetry, which form hydrogen-bonded chains, and [Na(H(2)O)(6)] octa-hedra that form zigzag chains [Na(H(2)O)(4/2)(H(2)O)(2/1)]. The O-H bond distances obtained from the present redetermination at 145 K are shorter than those in the neutron study by an average of 0.127 (19) Å.
More Related Videos
09:16X-ray Powder Diffraction in Conservation Science: Towards Routine Crystal Structure Determination of Corrosion Products on Heritage Art Objects
Published on: June 8, 2016
08:53Biochemical and Structural Characterization of the Carbohydrate Transport Substrate-binding-protein SP0092
Published on: October 2, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Determination of Crystal Structures
X-ray Crystallography
Diffraction
Diffraction is the change in the direction of travel experienced by an electromagnetic wave when it encounters a physical barrier whose dimensions are comparable to those of the wavelength of the light. X-rays are electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths about as long as the distance between neighboring...
X-ray Diffraction of Biological Samples
According to Bragg's law, when X-rays strike the sample positioned on a stage, the rays are scattered by the electron clouds around the sample atoms. The X-ray diffraction or scattering is caused by constructive interference of the X-ray waves that reflect off the internal crystal...