Barium chlorite hydrate, Ba(ClO2)2.3.5H2O.

The structure of barium chlorite hydrate, Ba(ClO2)2.3.5H2O, has been determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis at 150 K. The structure is monoclinic, space group C2/c, with Z = 8. It contains layers of Ba2+ cations coordinated by ClO2- anions and water molecules. There are also solvate water molecules involved only in hydrogen bonding of the layers. Three solvate water O atoms are on sites of twofold symmetry, while all other atoms are in general positions. The full coordination environment of the Ba2+ cation consists of ten O atoms belonging to six chlorites and three water molecules, forming a bicapped square antiprism.