The crystal structure of potassium mercuric tribromide monohydrate has been determined by X-ray diffraction techniques. The structure consists of four molecules linked by hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces, in a unit cell of Cmc21 symmetry, and of dimensions a=4.37, b= 16-87 and c= 10.14/~. The mercury atom is surrounded by four bromine atoms in an irregular tetrahedron. The bromine atoms at x = ½ and-½ are shared, resulting in a zigzag chain of Br-Hg-Br-Hg atoms along the a axis. The other bromine atoms are held by hydrogen bonds of the water molecule.