DOE OSTI2020
MgH8(O6Cl)2 is alpha structured and crystallizes in the monoclinic C2 space group. The structure is zero-dimensional and consists of two MgH8(O6Cl)2 clusters. Mg is bonded to six O atoms to form MgO6 octahedra that share corners with two equivalent ClO4 tetrahedra. There are a spread of Mg–O bond distances ranging from 2.05–2.18 Å. There are four inequivalent H sites. In the first H site, H is bonded in a single-bond geometry to one O atom. The H–O bond length is 0.98 Å. In the second H site, H is bonded in a single-bond geometry to one O atom. The H–O bond length is 0.98 Å. In the third H site, H is bonded in a single-bond geometry to one O atom. The H–O bond length is 0.98 Å. In the fourth H site, H is bonded in a single-bond geometry to one O atom. The H–O bond length is 0.98 Å. There are seven inequivalent O sites. In the first O site, O is bonded in a 2-coordinate geometry to one Mg and two H atoms. In the second O site, O is bonded in a bent 120 degrees geometry to one Mg and one Cl atom. The O–Cl bond length is 1.50 Å. In the third O site, O is bonded in a single-bond geometry to one Cl atom. The O–Cl bond length is 1.44 Å. In the fourth O site, O is bonded in a distorted trigonal planar geometry to one Mg and two equivalent H atoms. In the fifth O site, O is bonded in a single-bond geometry to one Cl atom. The O–Cl bond length is 1.47 Å. In the sixth O site, O is bonded in a single-bond geometry to one Cl atom. The O–Cl bond length is 1.44 Å. In the seventh O site, O is bonded in a distorted trigonal planar geometry to one Mg and two equivalent H atoms. Cl is bonded to four O atoms to form ClO4 tetrahedra that share a cornercorner with one MgO6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles are 55°.