Structure of lead(II,IV) oxide

I need help sorting out the molecular structure of [tri-lead tetroxide](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead(II,IV)_oxide), aka lead(II,IV) oxide $\ce{Pb3O4}$.


This [data sheet](http://www.labsupply.co.za/chemicals/t-z/tri-lead%20tetroxide.PDF) shows this image:


[![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/z4EC0.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/z4EC0.png)


The Wikipedia's [lead (II,IV) oxide](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead(II,IV)_oxide)'s link to a [Jmol interactive image](http://chemapps.stolaf.edu/jmol/jmol.php?model=O1%5BPb%5DO%5BPb%5D11O%5BPb%5DO1) looks like this:


[![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/36l0C.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/36l0C.png)


Even the Wikipedia article's [Talk Page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Lead(II,IV)_oxide)'s discussion on the naming and structure makes for interesting reading. 


The first drawing shows a $\ce{Pb-O-Pb-O-Pb-O -}$ ring, the second shows a 4-bond $\ce{Pb}$ in the middle with two 2-bond $\ce{Pb}$'s on either side.


Is there a "right way" and a "wrong way" to draw a single molecule of $\ce{Pb3O4}$ that represents how it might actually be configured? Are both, either, or neither of the above representations "right"?




What you call a *molecular structure* is in reality an [*asymmetric unit*](http://reference.iucr.org/dictionary/Asymmetric_unit). These two terms are not related, and in general are not interchangeable. The same way $\ce{Pb3O4}$ is not a *molecular formula*, but a [*formula unit*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formula_unit). 


All pictures you presented are correct in terms that they do represent an asymmetric unit, but actually an [IUCr](http://www.iucr.org/)-recommended asymmetric unit (can be generated with [Olex2](http://www.olexsys.org/)'s command `standardise`) looks like this:


$\color{#FF0D0D}{\Large\bullet}~\ce{O}$;
$\color{#575961}{\Large\bullet}~\ce{Pb}$.


[![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/LTNbH.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/LTNbH.png)


... and with $Z = 4$ these are packed in a unit cell with [$Pbam$ space group](http://img.chem.ucl.ac.uk/sgp/large/055az1.htm) accordingly:


[![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/R0Hhw.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/R0Hhw.png)
[![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/PUzFE.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/PUzFE.png)


The crystal structure itself can be represented as infinite layers of cross-linked chains made of $\ce{[PbO6]}$ octahedra, which are stacked via $\ce{- O-Pb-O -}$ bridges:


[![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/crwzI.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/crwzI.png)


Crystallographic data is taken from ICSD #9753 [1].


1. Gavarri, J. R.; Weigel, D.; Hewat, A. W. *Journal of Solid State Chemistry* **1978**, 23 (3), 327–339. DOI [10.1016/0022-4596(78)90081-6](https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-4596(78)90081-6).


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