| Abstract: | Synthesis and Characterisation of Mercury Cyanamide HgCN2 was prepared by double conversion of HgCl2 with sodium cyanamide in aqueous solution. Its crystal structure has been determined using X‐ray powder data and refined by combined profile fits using X‐ray and neutron diffraction data (Pbca, Z = 8, a = 10.4851(1), b = 6.5138(1), c = 6.8929(1) Å; Rp (X‐ray) = 6.15%; Rp (neutrons) = 2.33; 2.43%). The cyanamide‐anion is bent (172.4(7)°), which has been confirmed by vibrational spectroscopy. Mercury and carbon form zigzag chains. Not including nitrogen, the structure is related to the MnP‐structure type. |
