Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 20, 2026
Ionic Crystal Structures: Effect of Charge, Size and Ratio of Cation and Anions
The crystal structure of tetra-kis-(5-phenyl-1H-imidazole-κN 3)zinc(II) dinitrate
1University of South Africa, Department of Chemistry, Private Bag X6, Florida, Gauteng, 1710, South Africa.
Abstract:
The title complex salt, [Zn(C9H8N2)4](NO3)2, features a central zinc(II) ion coordinated by four 5-phenyl-imidazole ligands, with two nitrate anions providing charge balance. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c. In the crystal, the nitrate ions occupy the voids formed by the [Zn(C9H8N2)4]2+ cations and function as counter-ions. The nitrate oxygen atoms participate in strong N-H⋯O hydrogen-bonding inter-actions. The crystal studied was refined as a two-component twin.
Related Concept Videos
Ionic 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...
13:34Production, Crystallization and Structure Determination of C. difficile PPEP-1 via Microseeding and Zinc-SAD
13:02Production, Crystallization, and Structure Determination of the IKK-binding Domain of NEMO
22:00Crystallizing Membrane Proteins for Structure Determination using Lipidic Mesophases
11:31Crystal Structure of the N-terminal Domain of Ryanodine Receptor from Plutella xylostella
06:39Aerosol-assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition of Metal Oxide Structures: Zinc Oxide Rods

