Mg2Zn is beta-derived structured and crystallizes in the trigonal R32 space group. There are two inequivalent Mg sites. In the first Mg site, Mg(1) is bonded to two equivalent Mg(2), six equivalent Mg(1), and four equivalent Zn(1) atoms to form distorted MgMg8Zn4 cuboctahedra that share corners with eighteen equivalent Mg(1)Mg8Zn4 cuboctahedra, edges with six equivalent Mg(1)Mg8Zn4 cuboctahedra, edges with eight equivalent Zn(1)Mg9Zn3 cuboctahedra, faces with eight equivalent Mg(1)Mg8Zn4 cuboctahedra, and faces with eight equivalent Zn(1)Mg9Zn3 cuboctahedra. In the second Mg site, Mg(2) is bonded in a distorted hexagonal planar geometry to six equivalent Mg(1) and six equivalent Zn(1) atoms. Zn(1) is bonded to three equivalent Mg(2), six equivalent Mg(1), and three equivalent Zn(1) atoms to form distorted ZnMg9Zn3 cuboctahedra that share corners with twelve equivalent Zn(1)Mg9Zn3 cuboctahedra, edges with six equivalent Zn(1)Mg9Zn3 cuboctahedra, edges with twelve equivalent Mg(1)Mg8Zn4 cuboctahedra, faces with four equivalent Zn(1)Mg9Zn3 cuboctahedra, and faces with twelve equivalent Mg(1)Mg8Zn4 cuboctahedra.
Mg2Zn is beta-derived structured and crystallizes in the trigonal R32 space group. There are two inequivalent Mg sites. In the first Mg site, Mg(1) is bonded to two equivalent Mg(2), six equivalent Mg(1), and four equivalent Zn(1) atoms to form distorted MgMg8Zn4 cuboctahedra that share corners with eighteen equivalent Mg(1)Mg8Zn4 cuboctahedra, edges with six equivalent Mg(1)Mg8Zn4 cuboctahedra, edges with eight equivalent Zn(1)Mg9Zn3 cuboctahedra, faces with eight equivalent Mg(1)Mg8Zn4 cuboctahedra, and faces with eight equivalent Zn(1)Mg9Zn3 cuboctahedra. Both Mg(1)-Mg(2) bond lengths are 3.15 Å. There are two shorter (2.94 Å) and four longer (2.99 Å) Mg(1)-Mg(1) bond lengths. There are two shorter (3.11 Å) and two longer (3.17 Å) Mg(1)-Zn(1) bond lengths. In the second Mg site, Mg(2) is bonded in a distorted hexagonal planar geometry to six equivalent Mg(1) and six equivalent Zn(1) atoms. All Mg(2)-Zn(1) bond lengths are 2.97 Å. Zn(1) is bonded to three equivalent Mg(2), six equivalent Mg(1), and three equivalent Zn(1) atoms to form distorted ZnMg9Zn3 cuboctahedra that share corners with twelve equivalent Zn(1)Mg9Zn3 cuboctahedra, edges with six equivalent Zn(1)Mg9Zn3 cuboctahedra, edges with twelve equivalent Mg(1)Mg8Zn4 cuboctahedra, faces with four equivalent Zn(1)Mg9Zn3 cuboctahedra, and faces with twelve equivalent Mg(1)Mg8Zn4 cuboctahedra. All Zn(1)-Zn(1) bond lengths are 2.97 Å.