Yttrium pyrogermanate,Y2Ge2O7

The structure of diyttrium digermanate, Y₂Ge₂O₇, has been determined in the tetragonal space group P4₃2₁2. It contains one Y, one Ge (both site symmetry 1 on general position 8b) and four O atoms one on special position 4a (site symmetry ..2) and the remaining three on general positions 8b]. The basic units of the structure are isolated Ge₂O₇ groups, sharing one common O atom and displaying a Ge—O—Ge angle of 134.9 (3)°, and infinite helical chains of pentagonal YO₇ dipyramids, parallel to the 4₃ screw axis. The crystal investigated here represents the left‐handed form of the tetragonal R₂Ge₂O₇ compounds (R = Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺, Er³⁺, Tm³⁺ and Lu³⁺).