The title compounds of sulfur, C10H6N2O4S2,(I), and selenium, C10H6N2O4Se2,(II), are isomorphous. The crystallographically centrosymmetric molecules are planar. The bond distances and angles, except for those involving the S and Se atoms, are comparable. The molecules are disposed in layers parallel to the bc plane. The molecular axes differ by 75° for (I) and by 80° for (II) from one layer to the next.