The crystal structures of two dyestuffs, Na(+).C(11)H(8)N(3)O(2)(-).H(2)O, (I), and NH(4)(+).C(10)H(5)N(2)O(5)(-), (II), were determined from X-ray powder diffraction data. In both structures, translationally related anions form stacks, and cations fill interstack channels. A comparison of the diffuse reflectance spectra of crystalline (I) and (II) with the absorption spectra of their aqueous solutions demonstrates that the geometry of their anions does not change significantly upon transfer from the crystalline to the solution state.