Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 27, 2026
Crystallizing Membrane Proteins for Structure Determination using Lipidic Mesophases
Published on: November 21, 2010
Crystal structure of Ba2Co(BO3)2
Fatima-Ezahra N'Faoui1, Jilali Aride1, Ali Boukhari2
1Laboratoire de Physico-Chimie des Matériaux Inorganiques et Organiques, Centre des Sciences des Matériaux, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco.
Abstract:
Single crystals of dibarium cobalt(II) bis-(orthoborate), Ba2Co(BO3)2, have been obtained from the melt. The crystal structure is composed of two isolated (BO3)3- triangles linked to Co2+ cations. The resulting [CoO5] square pyramids and the borate anions make up branched rows extending parallel to [010]. The barium cations occupy two sites in the voids of this arrangement and exhibit coordination numbers of nine each. A comparison with the structures of other A 2 M(BO3)2 compounds reveals a unique five-coordination of the small metal M in the title compound instead of four- or six-coordination for the other A 2 M(BO3)2 compounds with M = Cu, Zn, Mg, Ca, or Cd.
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,...
02:22Structures of Solids
01:13meta-Directing Deactivators: –NO2, –CN, –CHO, –CO2R, –COR, –CO2H