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Updated: Dec 27, 2025

Methane Hydrate Crystallization on Sessile Water Droplets
Published on: May 26, 2021
A new hydrate of magnesium carbonate, MgCO3·6H2O
Christine Rincke1, Horst Schmidt1, Wolfgang Voigt1
1Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Leipziger Strasse 29, D-09599 Freiberg, Germany.
Abstract:
During investigations of the formation of hydrated magnesium carbonates, a sample of the previously unknown magnesium carbonate hexahydrate (MgCO3·6H2O) was synthesized in an aqueous solution at 273.15 K. The crystal structure consists of edge-linked isolated pairs of Mg(CO3)(H2O)4 octahedra and noncoordinating water molecules, and exhibits similarities to NiCO3·5.5H2O (hellyerite). The recorded X-ray diffraction pattern and the Raman spectra confirmed the formation of a new phase and its transformation to magnesium carbonate trihydrate (MgCO3·3H2O) at room temperature.
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