Abstract
HYDROXYAPATITE is the prototype substance of the inorganic component of bones and teeth and its structure has therefore been studied in some detail using synthetic and mineral samples1–3. In the past it has been reported to have a hexagonal space group P63/m but because the samples previously studied were probably not pure, for example, the mineral samples may have contained fluorine, there is reason to believe that the true space group is monoclinic P21/b. This is by analogy with pure and stoichiometric chlorapatite4,5 which has the space group P21/b instead of the hexagonal one typical of apatites.
Article PDF
References
Posner, A. S., Perloff, A., and Diorio, A. F., Acta Cryst., 11, 308 (1958).
Kay, M. I., Young, R. A., and Posner, A. S., Nature, 204, 1050 (1964).
Sudarsanan, K., and Young, R. A., Acta Cryst., B25, 1534 (1969).
Young, R. A., and Elliott, J. C., Archs. Oral Biol., 11, 699 (1966).
Prener, J. S., J. Electrochem. Soc., 114, 77 (1967).
Elliott, J. C., and Young, R. A., Nature, 214, 904 (1967).
Mackie, P. E., Elliott, J. C., and Young, R. A., American Crystallographic Association Program and Abstracts, Atlanta winter meeting, paper E7 (A.C.A., January 1967).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
ELLIOTT, J. Monoclinic Space Group of Hydroxyapatite. Nature Physical Science 230, 72 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/physci230072a0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/physci230072a0
This article is cited by
-
The migration of F−, OH− and O2− ions in apatites
Calcified Tissue Research (1973)
-
Diffusion Anisotropy in Apatite
Nature Physical Science (1971)