Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Thermal Property of a Potassium-ammonium Double Salt K0.48(NH4)0.52MgCl3 · 6H2O.

By evaporating the brine containing potassium and ammonium cations compound of the composition K0.48(NH4)0.52MgCl3 · 6H2O was obtained. Its crystal structure was determined by single crystal X-ray analysis. In the crystal, monovalent cation consists of 52% of ammonium and 48% of potassium. The crystal structure consists of a network of (N,K)Cl6 octahedra and Mg(H2O)6 octahedra occupying the cavities in this network. Its unit cell parameters are similar to those of ammonium carnallite. There are obvious differences between the crystal structure of carnallite and the compound. IR spectra show that both carnallite and ammonium chloride characteristic peaks are detected. The thermal behaviour was also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]