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Antimony pentasulfide

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Overview

Antimony pentasulfide is an inorganic compound of antimony and sulfur, also known as antimony red. It is a nonstoichiometric compound with a variable composition. Its exact structure is unknown.[1] Commercial samples are usually are contaminated with sulfur, which may be removed by washing with carbon disulfide in a Soxhlet extractor.

Production

Production

Antimony pentasulfide can be produced by the reaction of antimony with sulfur at a temperature between 250-400 °C in an inert atmosphere.

Uses

Uses

It may be used as a red pigment and is one possible precursor to Schlippe’s Salt, Na3SbS4, which can be prepared according to the equation:

3 Na2S   +   Sb2S5   +   9 H2O   →   2 Na3SbS4·9H2O
Physical chemistry

Physical chemistry

Like many sulfides, this compound liberates hydrogen sulfide upon treatment with strong acids like hydrochloric acid.[2]

6 HCl   +   Sb2S5   →   2 SbCl3   +   3 H2S   +   2 S

Analysis by Mössbauer spectroscopy indicates that this compound is a derivative antimony(III),[3] explaining the production of antimony(III) chloride, rather than antimony(V) chloride, upon acidification. It is therefore not analogous to the phosphorus(V) compound phosphorus pentasulfide.

References

References

  1. Arnold F. Holleman, Nils Wiberg: Lehrbuch der Anorganischen Chemie, 102nd edition, de Gruyter, Berlin 2007, p. 849, ISBN 978-3-11-017770-1.
  2. Strem MSDS
  3. G. G. Long, J. G. Stevens, L. H. Bowen, S. L. Ruby (1969). “The oxidation number of antimony in antimony pentasulfide”. Inorganic and Nuclear Chemistry Letters. 5 (1): 21–25. doi:10.1016/0020-1650(69)80231-X.

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