Hydrogen bond studies. CXX. An X-ray determination of the crystal structure of LiNO3.3H2O

For pt.CXIX see Z. Naturforsch. a, vol.32, p.134 (1977). The crystal structure of lithium nitrate trihydrate, LiNO 3.3H 2O, has been determined by X-ray diffraction at 295K. The crystal is orthorhombic, space group Cmcm, a=6.8018 (4), b=12.7132 (9), c=5.9990 (4) Aring, V=518.75 Aring 3, Z=4. The nitrate ions, Li + ions and one of the two crystallographically non-equivalent water molecules lie in a mirror plane and are bonded to atoms in adjacent planes through the second water molecule. The Li + ion is octahedrally surrounded by six O atoms, four belonging to water molecules and two to nitrate ions. The two non-equivalent water molecules are present in the structure in distinctly different bonding situations. One is bonded to two Li + ions and is the donor of two hydrogen bonds. The other is involved in six hydrogen bonds: the O atom accepts two hydrogen bonds, and both protons are involved in bifurcated hydrogen bonds.