Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 28, 2026
Protein Crystallization for X-ray Crystallography
Published on: January 16, 2011
Redetermination of the crystal structure of tetra-lithium octa-fluorido-zirconate(IV), Li4ZrF8, from single-crystal
Alexander T Chemey1, Thomas E Albrecht-Schmitt1
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, 95 Chieftan Way, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA.
Abstract:
Presented herein is the crystal-structure redetermination of Li4ZrF8 from single-crystal X-ray data. Alkali zirconium fluorides are important in nuclear-relevant technologies, and zirconium is commonly employed as an analogue for tetra-valent f-block elements. The previous structure report of this species is based on powder X-ray data [Dugat et al. (1995 ▸). J. Solid State Chem. 120, 187-196] but there has never been a refined structure model from single-crystal data. The octa-fluorido-zirconate moieties are held together by electrostatic attraction to lithium ions without sharing of fluoride sites between zirconium(IV) ions.
Related Concept Videos
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...
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...
01:25Crystal Growth: Principles of Crystallization
Initiating crystallization involves manipulating the concentration of the solute and the temperature of the solution. Since crystal growth occurs when the ratio of concentration and solubility of the solute in the solvent...
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,...
02:18X-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...
02:22Structures of Solids