Structures of disodium hydrogen citrate monohydrate, Na2HC6H5O7(H2O), and diammonium sodium citrate, (NH4)2NaC6H5O7, from powder diffraction data

Abstract

The crystal structures of disodium hydrogen citrate monohydrate, Na2HC6H5O7(H2O), and diammonium sodium citrate, (NH4)2NaC6H5O7, have been solved and refined using laboratory X-ray powder diffraction data, and optimized using density functional techniques. In NaHC6H5O7(H2O), the NaO6 coordination polyhedra share edges, forming zigzag layers lying parallel to the bc plane. The hydrophobic methylene groups occupy the interlayer spaces. The carboxylic acid group makes a strong charge-assisted hydrogen bond to the central carboxylate group. The hydroxyl group makes an intramolecular hydrogen bond to an ionized terminal carboxylate oxygen atom. Each hydrogen atom of the water molecule acts as a donor, to a terminal carboxylate and the hydroxyl group. Both the Na substructure and the hydrogen bonding differ from those of the known phase Na2HC6H5O7(H2O)1.5. In (NH4)2NaC6H5O7, the NaO6 coordination octahedra share corners, making double zigzag chains propagating along the b-axis direction. Each hydrogen atom of the ammonium ions acts as a donor in a discrete N—H...O hydrogen bond. The hydroxyl group forms an intramolecular O—H...O hydrogen bond to a terminal carboxylate oxygen atom.

Keywords

• powder diffraction
• citrate
• sodium
• ammonium
• density functional theory