Synthesis,Crystal Structure Determination from X‐Ray Powder Diffractometry and Vibrational Spectroscopic Properties of Mg[N(CN)2]2 · 4 H2O

Magnesium dicyanamide tetrahydrate Mg[N(CN)₂]₂ · 4 H₂O was synthesized by aqueous ion exchange starting from Na[N(CN)₂] and Mg(NO₃)₂ · 6 H₂O. The crystal structure was solved and refined on the basis of powder X‐ray diffraction data (P2₁/c, Z = 2, a = 737.50(2), b = 732.17(1), c = 971.67(2) pm, β = 98.074(1)°, wR_p = 0.059, R_p = 0.046, R_F = 0.075). In the crystal there are neutral complexes [Mg[N(CN)₂]₂(H₂O)₄] which are only connected via hydrogen bonds. Above 40 °C the tetrahydrate decomposes into anhydrous Mg[N(CN)₂]₂.     

Spatial filters for differentiation

A grating is copied in monochromatic coherent light. The copy plate is not quite in contact with the grating. Therefore, the fringe contrast on the copy plate will vary across the field. This copy plate can serve as spatial filter for performing first order or higher order differentiations, if the geometry of the copy process was chosen properly.