Mg5Hg3 crystallizes in the hexagonal P6_3/mcm space group. There are two inequivalent Mg sites. In the first Mg site, Mg(1) is bonded in a 5-coordinate geometry to five equivalent Hg(1) atoms. In the second Mg site, Mg(2) is bonded in a 6-coordinate geometry to six equivalent Hg(1) atoms. Hg(1) is bonded in a 9-coordinate geometry to four equivalent Mg(2) and five equivalent Mg(1) atoms.
Mg5Hg3 crystallizes in the hexagonal P6_3/mcm space group. There are two inequivalent Mg sites. In the first Mg site, Mg(1) is bonded in a 5-coordinate geometry to five equivalent Hg(1) atoms. There are a spread of Mg(1)-Hg(1) bond distances ranging from 2.80-3.12 Å. In the second Mg site, Mg(2) is bonded in a 6-coordinate geometry to six equivalent Hg(1) atoms. All Mg(2)-Hg(1) bond lengths are 2.94 Å. Hg(1) is bonded in a 9-coordinate geometry to four equivalent Mg(2) and five equivalent Mg(1) atoms.