On the Binary Compound YbGa5

YbGa₅ was characterized in course of a re‐investigation of the Yb—Ga system in the range between 0 and 20 at. % Yb. The compound can be described as a defect variant of the Ce₂Ga₁₀Ni structure type (space group I4/mmm, a = 430.59(4) pm, c = 2587.1(4) pm). The special feature of the crystal structure is given by local disorder within the gallium network. From magnetic susceptibility, ytterbium is in the valence state 2+.