ZnGe(SO4)3 crystallizes in the trigonal R3c space group. Zn(1) is bonded to three equivalent O(1) and three equivalent O(3) atoms to form ZnO6 octahedra that share corners with six equivalent S(1)O4 tetrahedra. Ge(1) is bonded to three equivalent O(2) and three equivalent O(4) atoms to form GeO6 octahedra that share corners with six equivalent S(1)O4 tetrahedra. S(1) is bonded to one O(1), one O(2), one O(3), and one O(4) atom to form SO4 tetrahedra that share corners with two equivalent Zn(1)O6 octahedra and corners with two equivalent Ge(1)O6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles range from 25-37°. There are four inequivalent O sites. In the first O site, O(2) is bonded in a bent 150 degrees geometry to one Ge(1) and one S(1) atom. In the second O site, O(3) is bonded in a bent 150 degrees geometry to one Zn(1) and one S(1) atom. In the third O site, O(4) is bonded in a bent 150 degrees geometry to one Ge(1) and one S(1) atom. In the fourth O site, O(1) is bonded in a bent 150 degrees geometry to one Zn(1) and one S(1) atom.
ZnGe(SO4)3 crystallizes in the trigonal R3c space group. Zn(1) is bonded to three equivalent O(1) and three equivalent O(3) atoms to form ZnO6 octahedra that share corners with six equivalent S(1)O4 tetrahedra. All Zn(1)-O(1) bond lengths are 2.02 Å. All Zn(1)-O(3) bond lengths are 2.03 Å. Ge(1) is bonded to three equivalent O(2) and three equivalent O(4) atoms to form GeO6 octahedra that share corners with six equivalent S(1)O4 tetrahedra. All Ge(1)-O(2) bond lengths are 1.95 Å. All Ge(1)-O(4) bond lengths are 1.94 Å. S(1) is bonded to one O(1), one O(2), one O(3), and one O(4) atom to form SO4 tetrahedra that share corners with two equivalent Zn(1)O6 octahedra and corners with two equivalent Ge(1)O6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles range from 25-37°. The S(1)-O(1) bond length is 1.44 Å. The S(1)-O(2) bond length is 1.55 Å. The S(1)-O(3) bond length is 1.45 Å. The S(1)-O(4) bond length is 1.52 Å. There are four inequivalent O sites. In the first O site, O(2) is bonded in a bent 150 degrees geometry to one Ge(1) and one S(1) atom. In the second O site, O(3) is bonded in a bent 150 degrees geometry to one Zn(1) and one S(1) atom. In the third O site, O(4) is bonded in a bent 150 degrees geometry to one Ge(1) and one S(1) atom. In the fourth O site, O(1) is bonded in a bent 150 degrees geometry to one Zn(1) and one S(1) atom.