On the crystal chemistry of salt hydrates. II. A neutron diffraction study of MgSO4.4H2O

The crystal structure of MgSO 4. 4H~O has been refined, single-crystM neutron diffraction data for the three main zones being used. The hydrogen positions which were found are essentially those which have been deduced from X-ray data in an earlier investigation (Baur, 1962). The mean value of the Ow-I-I bond lengths is 0.97/~. The Ow-H-O bonds are bent considerably. One hydrogen atom does not participate in hydrogen bonding, as can be concluded from the geometry of its surroundings and its thermal motion.