Bond-valence parameters for ammonium-anion interactions

Bond-valence parameters r(0) and b, relating bond valence and bond length, are calculated for interactions between the ammonium ion and anions X = O, F, Cl. Searches in the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) and in the Inorganic Crystal Structural Database (ICSD) were performed to obtain the lengths of NH4+... X contacts for ammonium ion environments in different structures. The procedure, which represents an extension of previous methods, allows certain environments to be rejected and enables the calculation of r(0) and b from a reasonable range of interaction distances. Results are in very good agreement with the expected values on the basis of the assumed bond-valence model and their overall applicability to ammonium ion interactions is discussed.