A new investigation of rubidium cadmium trichloride

The structure of RbCdCl3 has been determined from X-ray diffraction of the MoK alpha line (lambda = 0.7107 Angstrom) for a single crystal grown at room temperature from aqueous solution. After refinement through blocked least-squares methods, the reliability factor R in the final cycle was 3.31%, using 1955 observed reflections with I greater than or equal to 2 sigma(I). The following results have been obtained, in good agreement with previous powder measurements:orthorhombic system, space group Pnma (D-2h), a = 8.962 Angstrom, b = 4.034 Angstrom, c = 14.980 Angstrom; D-m = 3.732 g/cm(3), D-x = 3.736 g/cm(3), F(000) = 543.90; Z = 4. Double columns of edge-sharing CdCl6 octahedra (Cd-Cl = 2.647 Angstrom) extending along b are linked by nine coordinated Rb ions (Rb-Cl = 3.366 Angstrom) into a compact structure. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.