The silver(I) mercury(II) oxide nitrate with the empirical formula AgHg2NO5

The title compound was prepared by solid state reaction of Ag2O with Hg(NO3 )(2). H2O in air at 350 degrees C. Its crystal structure was determined fro m single-crystal diffractometer data: Pnma, a = 620.1(1) pm, b = 670.1(1) p m, c = 1267.5(2) pm, Z = 4, R = 0.026 for 586 structure factors and 33 vari able parameters. The compound may be represented by the formula AE(HgO)(2)N O3. The mercury(II) together with the oxygen atoms form zig-zag chains with linear coordination of the mercury atoms. The oxygen atoms of these chains are linked via silver(I) atoms, thus forming two-dimensionally infinite ne ts, which contain the, trigonal planar nitrate groups in interstices. Thus, only secondary Hg-O and Ag-O bonds are formed between the nets.