Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 9, 2026
High Pressure Single Crystal Diffraction at PX^2
Published on: January 16, 2017
Crystal structure of the Fe-member of usovite
1Institute for Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Division of Structural Chemistry, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9/164-SC, A-1060 Vienna, Austria.
Abstract:
Crystals of the title compound, with the idealized composition Ba2CaFeAl2F14, dibarium calcium iron(II) dialuminium tetra-deca-fluoride, were obtained serendipitously by reacting a mixture of the binary fluorides BaF2, CaF2 and AlF3 in a leaky steel reactor. The compound crystallizes in the usovite structure type (Ba2CaMgAl2F14), with Fe(2+) cations replacing the Mg(2+) cations. The principal building units are distorted [CaF8] square-anti-prisms (point group symmetry 2), [FeF6] octa-hedra (point group symmetry -1) and [AlF6] octa-hedra that are condensed into undulating (2) ∞[CaFeAl2F14](4-) layers parallel (100). The Ba(2+) cations separate the layers and exhibit a coordination number of 12. Two crystal structure models with a different treatment of the disordered Fe site [mixed Fe/Ca occupation, model (I), versus underoccupation of Fe, model (II)], are discussed, leading to different refined formulae Ba2Ca1.310 (15)Fe0.690 (15)Al2F14 [model (I)] and Ba2CaFe0.90 (1)Al2F14 [model (II)].
Related Concept Videos
02:58Crystal 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...
01:29Determination of Crystal Structures
02:42Ionic Crystal Structures
Most monatomic ions behave as charged spheres, and their attraction for ions of opposite charge is the same in every direction. Consequently, stable structures for ionic compounds result (1) when ions of one charge are surrounded by as many ions as possible of the opposite...
01:26Imperfections in Crystal Structure: Stoichiometric Point Defects
01:29Imperfections in Crystal Structure: Non-Stoichiometric Defects
02:46Crystal Field Theory - Tetrahedral and Square Planar Complexes
Crystal field theory (CFT) is applicable to molecules in geometries other than octahedral. In octahedral complexes, the lobes of the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals point directly at the ligands. For tetrahedral complexes, the d orbitals remain in place, but with only four ligands located between the axes. None of the orbitals points directly at the tetrahedral ligands. However, the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals (along the Cartesian axes) overlap with the ligands less than the dxy,...