Single Crystal Growth, Crystal Structure and Thermal Behaviour of Mercury(II) Pyrophosphate Dihydrate

Summary.

Colourless single crystals of Hg₂P₂O₇(H₂O)₂ up to 0.4 mm in length were grown by a diffusion technique starting from aqueous solutions of Na₄P₂O₇ and Hg(NO₃)₂. The crystal structure is isotypic with that of Ca₂P₂O₇(H₂O)₂ and was determined from a four-circle diffractometer data set (space group , Z=2, a=6.9374(7), b=7.4396(8), c=7.9863(7) Å, α=84.685(8), β=75.158(8), γ=72.818(8)°, 2413 structure factors, 132 parameters, R[F ² > 2σ(F ²)]=0.0181, wR(F ² all)= 0.0384). Hg₂P₂O₇(H₂O)₂ is composed of approximately eclipsed P₂O₇ ⁴⁻ anions and distorted [HgO₆] octahedra and [HgO₇] pentagonal bipyramids as the main building units. The structure is stabilized by inter-water hydrogen bonding and by hydrogen bonding between terminal pyrophosphate oxygen atoms and the water molecules. The P–O distances to the terminal oxygen atoms range from 1.501(4) to 1.536(3) Å, with an average of 1.522 Å; the mean distance of 1.615 Å to the bridging O atom is considerably longer with an (O–P–O) bridging angle of 123.44(19)°. Both Hg atoms have two short Hg–O bonds around 2.17 Å and additional bonds ranging from 2.381(3) to 2.708(4) Å. Upon heating above 160°C, both crystal water molecules are released simultaneously and anhydrous Hg₂P₂O₇ is formed which is stable up to ca. 660°C. Above this temperature the material decomposes completely.