The dissolution of the ternary material K 6 Rb 6 Si 17 in liquid ammonia yields the solvate compound Rb 4 Si 9 ・ 5NH 3 , which contains fourfold negatively charged nine atom silicon clusters Si 9 4− . Using additionally the [2.2.2] cryptand during the dissolution results in the solvate [K(2.2.2- crypt)]2Si 5 ・ 4NH 3 , in which the Si 5 2− anion is present in the crystal structure. The Si 5 2− anion has the shape of a nearly ideal trigonal bipyramid. The starting material K 6 Rb 6 Si 17 contains both Si 4 4− and Si 9 4− Zintl anions. In ammoniate crystal structures, Si 9 4− anions are accessible independently of Si 4 4− anions, and ammonia of crystallisation plays a major role in the observed crystal symmetry. For the cryptate structures of Si 5 2− and Ge 5 2− anions ammonia of crystallisation is obligatory despite the loss of crystal symmetry compared to the crystal structures of the heavier homologues Pb 5 2− and Sn 5 2− . Graphical Abstract Dissolving Silicides: Syntheses and Crystal Structures of New Ammoniates Containing Si 5 2– and Si 9 4– Polyanions and the Role of Ammonia of Crystallisation