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Crystal Lab › Oxides & frameworks

Corundum Al₂O₃

A₂B₃ · space group R-3c (No. 167) · Z = 6

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Unit cell

Lattice constants
a = 4.759 Å, b = 4.759 Å, c = 12.991 Å; α = 90°, β = 90°, γ = 120°
Cell volume
254.8 ų
Atoms in the cell
30 (Al 12, O 18)
Formula units Z
6
Calculated density
3.99 g cm⁻³
Shortest contact
1.856 Å

Coordination

Al
CN 6 at 1.86 Å (6 O)
O
CN 4 at 1.86 Å (4 Al)

About the structure

  • hcp array of O²⁻ with Al³⁺ in ⅔ of the octahedral holes.
  • Coordination: Al 6, O 4.
  • The hexagonal cell holds 6 formula units; Cr₂O₃, Fe₂O₃ (haematite), Ti₂O₃, V₂O₃ share the structure.
  • Ruby and sapphire are corundum with Cr³⁺ or Fe/Ti impurities.

Atom positions (fractional, one cell)

Atomxyz
Al0.00000.00000.3520
Al0.66670.33330.6853
Al0.33330.66670.0187
Al0.00000.00000.1480
Al0.66670.33330.4813
Al0.33330.66670.8147
Al0.00000.00000.6480
Al0.66670.33330.9813
Al0.33330.66670.3147
Al0.00000.00000.8520
Al0.66670.33330.1853
Al0.33330.66670.5187
O0.30600.00000.2500
O0.97270.33330.5833
O0.63930.66670.9167
O0.00000.30600.2500
O0.66670.63930.5833
O0.33330.97270.9167
O0.69400.69400.2500
O0.36070.02730.5833
O0.02730.36070.9167
O0.69400.00000.7500
O0.36070.33330.0833
O0.02730.66670.4167
O0.00000.69400.7500
O0.66670.02730.0833
O0.33330.36070.4167
O0.30600.30600.7500
O0.97270.63930.0833
O0.63930.97270.4167

Z, coordination numbers, distances, density and packing on this page are computed from these coordinates.

Other oxides & frameworks

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