Crystal structure of silver salts of fatty acids

Seven silver salts of even-numbered n-fatty acids were investigated by X-rays at 20 and at 78° C. Their unit cells were determined from powder photographs; they proved to be triclinic with two molecules of silver salt per unit cell. At 20° C. the unit cell varies gradually with chain length from a = 4.588, b = 4.016, c = 20.41 A., α = 101° 12′, β = 102° 28′, γ = 80° 4′ for silver caproate, to a = 4.693, b = 4.120, c = 50.35 A., α = 104° 35′, β = 93° 59′, γ = 76° 1′ for silver stearate. Changes of the unit-cell dimensions with temperature have been observed. A packing of the molecules in the unit cell is suggested.