Langbeinites are a family of crystalline substances based on the structure of langbeinite with general formula M2M'2(SO4)3, where M is a large univalent cation (such as potassium, rubidium, caesium, or ammonium), and M' is a small divalent cation (for example, magnesium, calcium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc or cadmium). The sulfate group, SO2−4, can be substituted by other tetrahedral anions with a double negative charge such as tetrafluoroberyllate (BeF2−4), selenate (SeO2−4), chromate (CrO2−4), molybdate (MoO2−4), or tungstates. Although monofluorophosphates are predicted, they have not been described. By redistributing charges other anions with the same shape such as phosphate also form langbeinite structures. In these the M' atom must have a greater charge to balance the extra three negative charges.
At higher temperatures the crystal structure is cubic P213.[1] However, the crystal structure may change to lower symmetries at lower temperatures, for example, P21, P1, or P212121.[1] Usually this temperature is well below room temperature, but in a few cases the substance must be heated to acquire the cubic structure.