Single crystals of the title compound, Na(H 2 AsO 4 ), were obtained by partial neutralization of arsenic acid with sodium hydroxide in aqueous solution. The crystal structure of Na(H 2 AsO 4 ) is isotypic with the phosphate analogue and the asymmetric unit consists of two sodium cations and two tetrahedral H 2 AsO 4 À anions. Each of the sodium cations is surrounded by six O atoms of five H 2 AsO 4 À groups, defining distorted octahedral coordination spheres. In the extended structure, the sodium cations and dihydrogen arsenate anions are arranged in the form of layers lying parallel to (010). Strong hydrogen bonds [range of OÁ Á ÁO distances 2.500 (3)-2.643 (3) Å ] between adjacent H 2 AsO 4 À anions are observed within and perpendicular to the layers. The isotypic structure of Na(H 2 PO 4 ) is comparatively discussed.
Chemical contextArsenic acid is triprotic and thus can form various salts, depending on the degree of deprotonation (H 2 AsO 4 À , HAsO 4 2À , AsO 4 3À ), the condensation grade of the anion (mono-, di-, tri-, polyarsenate, etc) and the amount of water incorporated in the crystal. With respect to sodium arsenates, numerous crystal structures have been determined so far, including arsenic in tetrahedral and/or in octahedral coordination by oxygen atoms. Arsenate structures with arsenic exclusively in tetrahedral coordination resemble those of the related phosphates and in some cases show isotypism with them (marked by an asterisk): Na 3.25 (AsO 4 )(OH) 0.25 (H 2 O) 12 *