Stibine was first found in 1837. It was difficult to find its properties because people did not know of a good way to make it. In 1901, Alfred Stock found a good way to make this gas and found most of its properties.
Stibine is made by reacting any antimonide with a strong acid. Some antimonides react with water to make this gas. Stibine can also be made by reacting any antimony(III) compound such as antimony trioxide with any hydride.
Stibine is used to dope semiconductors with antimony. Some claim that it is used as a fumigant, but phosphine works much better.
Stibine is a highly toxic gas, similar in toxicity to phosphine. It is too unstable to be of any hazard outside the laboratory, though.
Zinc antimonide
Zinc antimonide is a chemical compound. Its chemical formula is ZnSb. It has zinc and antimonide ions in it.
Zinc antimonide is a gray solid. Its properties are between an alloy and a salt. It reacts with water to make stibine. It is a reducing agent. It is a semiconductor.
It is made by heating zinc and antimony. It is used in transistors and infrared detectors.
Antimony tribromide
Antimony tribromide, also known as antimony(III) bromide, is a chemical compound. Its chemical formula is SbBr. It has antimony and bromide ions in it. The antimony is in its +3 oxidation state.
Antimony tribromide is a colorless solid. It absorbs water from the air. It reacts with water to make antimony trioxide and hydrobromic acid. It has covalent bonds in it and melts easily.
It is made by reacting antimony and bromine or by reacting concentrated hydrobromic acid with antimony trioxide.
It is used as a fire retardant. It is also used in dyeing, and analytical chemistry.
Antimony trichloride
Antimony trichloride, also known as antimony(III) chloride, is a chemical compound. Its chemical formula is SbCl. It has antimony and chloride ions in it. The antimony is in its +3 oxidation state.
Antimony trichloride is a white or pale yellow solid. It has a strong odor and absorbs water from the air. It reacts with water to make antimony trioxide and hydrochloric acid or hydrogen chloride.
It is made by reacting chlorine with antimony, antimony trioxide, or antimony trisulfide.
It is used to detect Vitamin A. It is used to get horns off calves. It is also used as a catalyst.
Antimony trifluoride
Antimony trifluoride, also known as antimony(III) fluoride or Swart's reagent, is a chemical compound. Its chemical formula is SbF. It has antimony and fluoride ions in it. The antimony is in its +3 oxidation state.
Antimony trifluoride is a light gray solid. It dissolves easily in water. It is very corrosive. It has a strong odor.
It is made by reacting antimony trioxide with concentrated hydrofluoric acid or by reacting antimony with a little fluorine.
It is used to add fluoride ions to other chemical compounds in organic chemistry. A Belgian chemist reacted a chloride with antimony trifluoride and chlorine to make a fluoride from the chloride. It was used to make Freon. It is also used in pottery and dyeing.
Antimony trifluoride is highly corrosive. It is acidic and can burn the digestive system. It also makes ulcers.
Antimony triiodide
Antimony triiodide is a chemical compound. Its chemical formula is SbI. It has antimony and iodide ions in it. The antimony is in its +3 oxidation state.
Antimony triiodide is a red solid. It is made by reacting antimony with iodine or by reacting concentrated hydriodic acid with antimony trioxide. It is used as a dopant.
Antimony trioxide
Antimony trioxide, also known as antimony(III) oxide, is a chemical compound. Its chemical formula is SbO. It has antimony and oxide ions in it. It has antimony in its +3 oxidation state.
Antimony trioxide is a white solid. It is the most common antimony compound. It does not dissolve in water. It reacts with oxidizing agents to make antimony pentoxide and with reducing agents to make antimony or stibine. It reacts with concentrated acids to make antimony(III) salts and dissolves in strong bases.
Antimony trioxide is found in two minerals, valentinite and senarmontite. Valentinite is a white mineral that is sometimes pale yellow.
Antimony trioxide is made when antimony is made. Stibnite is heated with air to make antimony trioxide. It is separated from arsenic by the boiling of the arsenic trioxide before the antimony trioxide boils. Antimony trioxide can also be made by a two step process. Stibnite is burned in air with calcium chloride to make calcium sulfate and antimony trichloride, which is reacted with water to make antimony trioxide.
Antimony trioxide is mainly used as a flame retardant. It is also used to make glass, enamel, and ceramic opaque (not clear). Some pigments have antimony in them. It is also used as a catalyst for making plastics. It is also used as a catalyst for vulcanizing rubber, making it more "rubbery" and less likely to crack.
Antimony trioxide is somewhat carcinogenic. It is somewhat toxic when eaten or breathed in.
Valentinite
Valentinite is a mineral. Its chemical formula is SbO. It is a mineral form of antimony trioxide. It has a Mohs hardness of 2.5 to 3. It is colorless to white. Its specific gravity is 5.76. It is made when stibnite is oxidized.
Antimony trisulfide
Antimony trisulfide, also known as antimony(III) sulfide, is a chemical compound. Its chemical formula is SbS. It has antimony and sulfide ions in it. The antimony is in its +3 oxidation state.
Antimony trisulfide is a gray solid. It reacts with hydrochloric acid to make hydrogen sulfide and an antimony(III) compound. It dissolves in potassium hydroxide. It burns in air to make antimony(III) oxide and sulfur dioxide. It is a reducing agent.
Stibnite is the mineral form of antimony trisulfide.
Antimony trisulfide is made in the laboratory by reacting any antimony(III) compound with hydrogen sulfide.
Antimony trisulfide is used in cosmetics; in this area it is called kohl. It is used in pyrotechnics to make a glitter effect. It is also used in the heads of safety matches. It used to be used in flash powder before electronic flashes were used.
Stibnite
Stibnite is a mineral. Its chemical formula is SbS. It is the main ore of antimony. The American Museum of Natural History has a huge crystal of stibnite. Stibnite is soft, with a Mohs hardness of 2. Its specific gravity is 4.63.
Antimony tetroxide
Antimony tetroxide, also known as antimony tetraoxide or antimony(III,V) oxide, is a chemical compound. Its chemical formula is SbO. It has antimony and oxide ions in it. The antimony is both in the +3 and the +5 oxidation state.
Antimony tetroxide is a white solid. It is an oxidizing agent. It turns yellow when heated and turns white again when cooled.
Antimony tetroxide is found as the mineral cervantite. It is made by heating antimony trioxide with air, burning antimony in air, or heated antimony pentoxide strongly.
Antimony pentachloride
Antimony pentachloride, also known as antimony(V) chloride, is a chemical compound. Its chemical formula is SbCl. It has antimony and chloride ions in it. The antimony is in its +5 oxidation state.
Antimony pentachloride is a colorless or yellow liquid. It releases toxic and odorous (bad odor) fumes in air. It melts at 2.8°C and boils at 140°C. It reacts with water to make antimony pentoxide and hydrochloric acid. It dissolves in hydrochloric acid. It dissolves in chloroform. It absorbs water to form a solid hydrate. It is a strong oxidizing agent.
It is made by reacting liquid antimony trichloride with chlorine.
It is used in a test for caesium. It is also used in the making of chemicals and dyes.
Antimony chloride
Antimony chloride can refer to either of these chemical compounds:
Antimony pentafluoride
Antimony pentafluoride, also known as antimony(V) fluoride, is a chemical compound. Its chemical formula is SbF. It has five antimony-fluorine bonds. The antimony is in its +5 oxidation state.