Structure
The structure of "xenon hexafluoroplatinate" is probably not Xe+−. The main problem with this formulation is "Xe+", which would be a radical and would dimerize or abstract an F atom to give XeF+. Thus, Bartlett discovered that Xe undergoes chemical reactions, but the nature of his initial mustard yellow product is complex. Further work indicates that Bartlett's product probably contained −, −, and . The title "compound" is a salt, consisting of an octahedral anionic fluoride complex of platinum and various xenon cations.
It has been proposed that the platinum fluoride forms a negatively charged polymeric network with xenon or xenon fluoride cations held in its instices. A preparation of "XePtF6" in HF solution results in a solid which has been characterized as a n polymeric network associated with XeF+. This result is evidence for such a polymeric structure of xenon hexafluoroplatinate.
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