Two layered magnesium aluminum hydroxosulfates- [Mg0.4-xAl2(OH)(6)][(SO4)(0
.4-x) . nH(2)O] (I) and [Mg1.5 + xAl(OH)(5 + 2x)][(SO4)(0.5) . nH(2)O] (II)
-were obtained by reacting a sodium hydroxide solution with solutions conta
ining magnesium and aluminum sulfates. The X-ray powder diffraction pattern
s of I and IT were indexed in the hexagonal system with a = 2.94 Angstrom a
nd c = 26.55 Angstrom for I and n = 3.02 Angstrom and c = 26.55 Angstrom fo
r II. As suggested by X-ray powder diffraction data, I is isostructural to
lithium aluminum hydroxosulfate [Li1 - xAl2(OH)(6)][(SO4)(0.5(1 - x)) . nH(
2)O] and II is isostructural to synthetic hydrotalcites [Mg6-xAl2(OH)(16-2x
)][(SO4) . nH(2)O].