The Structure of Rhombic Sulphur

Abstract

From rotation and oscillation photographs with MoKα, rhombic sulphur is found to have the following cell and space group; a = 10.48A, b = 12.92A, c = 24.55A, Z = 128, space group Vh 24(Fddd). The structure contains S8 molecules which are symmetrical puckered rings with S–S distance 2.12A and bond angle α = 105°. The atomic coordinates are determined by comparison of calculated amplitudes with visual intensity estimates from oscillation photographs. The relation of rhombic sulphur to the high temperature forms is discussed briefly.