Potassium sodium (2R,3R)-tartrate tetrahydrate: the paraelectric phase of Rochelle salt at 105 K

Abstract

Rochelle salt, K+·Na+·C4H4O62−·4H2O, is known for its remarkable ferroelectric state between 255 and 297 K. The current investigation, based on data collected at 105 K, provides very accurate structural information for the low-temperature paraelectric form. Unlike the ferroelectric form, there is only one tartrate molecule in the asymmetric unit, and the structure displays no disorder to large anisotropic atomic displacements.