Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 January 2013
(Na0.6H0.4)(Ta0.7Nb0.3)O3 was synthesized by heating a tantalum/niobium scale containing two sodium tantalate/niobate phases :Na14(Ta0.7Nb0.3)12O37·31H2O and NaH2Ta0.7Nb0.3O4. Powder X-ray diffraction data for (Na0.6H0.4)(Ta0.7Nb0.3)O3 indicated it to be a cubic perovskite (ABO3/ReO3 type structure) with unit cell a0=3.894 Å. The compound is analogous to the mineral lueshite (NaNbO3), and to the high temperature forms of NaTaO3 and NaNbO3. Powder diffraction data for (Na0.6H0.4)(Ta0.7Nb0.3)O3 will be useful in the analysis of synthetic tantalum/niobium concentrates.