Beta-Zn(3)(AsO(3))(2).
In the title compound, trizinc(II) diarsenite or trizinc(II) bis[trioxidoarsenate(III)], the constituent polyhedra that make up the structure are very distorted ZnO(4) tetrahedra and AsO(3) trigonal pyramids. These species fuse together to generate a three-dimensional network containing unusual edge-sharing tetrahedra, with a Zn...Zn separation of 2.903 (3) A. The structure also features eight-ring pseudo-channels occupied by the As(III) lone pairs of electrons. The title compound is a polymorph of the mineral reinerite, which also features edge-shared ZnO(4) tetrahedra.
Department of Chemistry, University of Aberdeen, Meston Walk, Aberdeen AB24 3UE, Scotland. w.harrison@abdn.ac.uk
William T A
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