The isotypic hydrogen phosphate and arsenate dihydrates M2HXO4·2H2O (M = Rb,Cs; X = P,As)

The four isotypic alkaline metal monohydrogen arsenate(V) and phosphate(V) dihydrates M₂HXO₄·2H₂O (M = Rb, Cs; X = P, As) [namely dicaesium monohydrogen arsenate(V) dihydrate, Cs₂HAsO₄·2H₂O, dicaesium monohydrogen phosphate(V) dihydrate, Cs₂HPO₄·2H₂O, dirubidium monohydrogen arsenate(V) dihydrate, Rb₂HAsO₄·2H₂O, and dirubidium monohydrogen phosphate(V) dihydrate, Rb₂HPO₄·2H₂O] were synthesized by reaction of an aqueous H₃XO₄ solution with one equivalent of aqueous M₂CO₃. Their crystal structures are made up of undulating chains extending along [001] of tetrahedral [XO₃(OH)]⁻ anions connected via strong O—H...O hydrogen bonds. These chains are in turn connected into a three‐dimensional network via medium‐strength hydrogen bonding involving the water molecules. Two crystallographically different M⁺ cations are located in channels running along [001] or in the free space of the [XO₃(OH)]⁻ chains, respectively. They are coordinated by eight and twelve O atoms forming irregular polyhedra. The structures possess pseudosymmetry. Due to the ordering of the protons in the [XO₃(OH)]⁻ chains in the actual structures, the symmetry is reduced from C2/c to P2₁/c. Nevertheless, the deviation from C2/c symmetry is minute.