A technique has been developed for handling the extremely reactive interhalogen compounds which makes it possible to investigate their structures by x-ray diffraction at low temperatures. As the first step in a program of study of the interhalogen group the crystal structure of chlorine trifluoride has been determined at −120°C. The chlorine trifluoride molecule is planar with the point group symmetry mm. The Cl atom is bonded to one F atom at 1.621A and to two F atoms at 1.716A. The F–Cl–F bond angle is 86°59′. In the succeeding pages of this journal, a parallel investigation of the vapor phase by microwave spectroscopy is presented by Dr. D. F. Smith. The molecular configuration is identical in the two cases.
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