P4O9 is Indium-like structured and crystallizes in the trigonal R-3c space group. The structure is zero-dimensional and consists of twelve tetraphosphorus nonoxide molecules. There are two inequivalent P sites. In the first P site, P(1) is bonded in a distorted T-shaped geometry to three equivalent O(1) atoms. In the second P site, P(2) is bonded to one O(1), one O(3), and two equivalent O(2) atoms to form corner-sharing PO4 tetrahedra. There are three inequivalent O sites. In the first O site, O(3) is bonded in a single-bond geometry to one P(2) atom. In the second O site, O(1) is bonded in a bent 120 degrees geometry to one P(1) and one P(2) atom. In the third O site, O(2) is bonded in a bent 120 degrees geometry to two equivalent P(2) atoms.
P4O9 is Indium-like structured and crystallizes in the trigonal R-3c space group. The structure is zero-dimensional and consists of twelve tetraphosphorus nonoxide molecules. There are two inequivalent P sites. In the first P site, P(1) is bonded in a distorted T-shaped geometry to three equivalent O(1) atoms. All P(1)-O(1) bond lengths are 1.68 Å. In the second P site, P(2) is bonded to one O(1), one O(3), and two equivalent O(2) atoms to form corner-sharing PO4 tetrahedra. The P(2)-O(1) bond length is 1.57 Å. The P(2)-O(3) bond length is 1.44 Å. There is one shorter (1.60 Å) and one longer (1.61 Å) P(2)-O(2) bond length. There are three inequivalent O sites. In the first O site, O(3) is bonded in a single-bond geometry to one P(2) atom. In the second O site, O(1) is bonded in a bent 120 degrees geometry to one P(1) and one P(2) atom. In the third O site, O(2) is bonded in a bent 120 degrees geometry to two equivalent P(2) atoms.