Single Crystal X-ray Diffraction Study of a Pure Natrolite Sample

The crystal structure of a pure natrolite sample, Na₂(Al₂Si₃O₁₀)·2H₂O, coming from Asheken, Ethiopia, has been analysed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. It crystallizes within the orthorhombic space group Fdd2, with the following cell constants: a = 18.2930(2) Å; b = 18.6430(5) Å; c = 6.5860(5) Å; V = 2246.07(18) Å³. The three-dimensional framework of this hydrated aluminosilicate zeolite is made up by chains of corner-sharing SiO₄ and AlO₄ tetrahedra down c; the chains are held together by sharing the external vertices of tetrahedra; water molecules and Na⁺ extra-framework cations fill up the resulting cavities, the latter forming irregular NaO₆ octahedra. Hydrogen bonds complete the array.