The alpha-phase structure of the title compound, C6H4Cl2, has been acc
urately redetermined at room temperature. Comparison with 100 K data s
hows that all different shortest intermolecular contacts (Cl ... Cl, C
l ... C, Cl ... H, C ... C, C ... H, H ... H) undergo thermal expansio
n. A three-centred hydrogen-bonding geometry is considered for some Cl
... H contacts.