Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026

Synthesis of Nine-atom Deltahedral Zintl Ions of Germanium and their Functionalization with Organic Groups
Published on: February 11, 2012
The Mg member of the isotypic series MTe6O13
Mahdi Shirkhanlou1, Matthias Weil
1Institute for Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Division of Structural Chemistry, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9/164-SC, A-1060 Vienna, Austria.
Abstract:
MgTe6O13, magnesium hexa-tellurate(IV), is isotypic with the structures of divalent first-row transition metal analogues MTe6O13 (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and Zn). The asymmetric unit contains one Mg, two Te and five O atoms of which the Mg and one O atom lie on a threefold rotation axis. The structure is made up from slightly distorted [MgO6] octa-hedra (isolated from each other), distorted [TeO4] bis-phenoids and [TeO4 + 1] tetra-gonal pyramids sharing corners and edges. This arrangement leads to the formation of a dense three-dimensional structure.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Predicting Molecular Geometry
Properties of Organometallic Compounds
Mass Spectrum: Interpretation
Elements: Chemical Symbols and Isotopes
Some symbols are derived from the common English name of the element; others are abbreviations of the name in another language — Latin, Greek or German. For example, the symbol for aluminum (common name)...
Stereoisomerism
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula.
Transition metal complexes often exist as geometric isomers, in which the same atoms are connected through the same types of bonds but with differences in their orientation in space. Coordination complexes with two different ligands in the cis and trans positions from a ligand of interest form isomers. For example, the octahedral [Co(NH3)4Cl2]+ ion has two isomers (Figure 1) In the cis...
Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...

