Polar potassium rare earth nitrates K2[RE(NO3)5(H2O)2] (RE = La, Ce, Pr and Nd). I. Crystal growth and crystal structures

Large single crystals (up to 5 × 5 × 4 cm ) of optical quality were grown from aqueous solutions containing a surplus of nitric acid using a standard evaporation method at 311 K. The main structural feature is the diaquapentanitratolanthanide(III) group, [RE(NO3) 5(H2O)2].