The crystal structures of five alkylenediammonium galactarates (1- 5) were determined because the information from these structures may provide some insight into the solid state structures of the poly(alkylene galactaramides) derived from these salts. In each case the meso-galactarate anion is in the extended conformation. In four out of the five cases associations between galactarate units led to alternating layers of anions and cations rather than the expected alternation of anion and cation found in ionic solids. All five salts display extensive hydrogen bonding involving ammonium and carboxylate groups and in some cases hydroxyl groups of the anion.