Chemical Properties
White Powder
General Description
ANTIMONY TRIOXIDE(1309-64-4) is a white crystalline solid. ANTIMONY TRIOXIDE(1309-64-4) is insoluble in water. The primary hazard is the threat to the environment. Immediate steps should be taken to limit its spread to the environment. ANTIMONY TRIOXIDE(1309-64-4) is used to fireproof fabrics, paper and plastics, as a paint pigment and for many other uses.
Reactivity Profile
IANTIMONY TRIOXIDE ignites and burns when heated in powdered form in air [Mellor 9:425 1946-47]. Reacts violentlhy with bromine trifluoride [Mellor Vol. 9 425.1939].
Air & Water Reactions
Insoluble in water.
Hazard
Possible carcinogen during production.
Health Hazard
DUST: POISONOUS IF INHALED OR IF SKIN IS EXPOSED. If inhaled will cause coughing, difficult breathing or loss of consciousness. SOLID: POISONOUS IF SWALLOWED OR IF SKIN IS EXPOSED. If swallowed will cause dizziness, nausea, vomiting or loss of consciousness.
Potential Exposure
It is used in flame-proofing, pigments
and ceramics, to stain iron and copper; to decolorize glass;
industrial chemical, dye, pigment, and printing ink.
Fire Hazard
Not flammable.
First aid
If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any
contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least
15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts
the skin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediately
with soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately.
If this chemical has been inhaled, remove from
exposure, begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions,
including resuscitation mask) if breathing has
stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. Transfer
promptly to a medical facility. When this chemical has
been swallowed, get medical attention. Give large quantities
of water and induce vomiting. Do not make an unconscious
person vomit.
Shipping
UN1549 Antimony compounds, inorganic, solid,
n.o.s., Hazard Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poisonous materials,
Technical Name Required.
Incompatibilities
Incompatible with oxidizers (chlorates,
nitrates, peroxides, permanganates, perchlorates, chlorine,
bromine, fluorine, etc.); contact may cause fires or explosions.
Keep away from alkaline materials, strong bases,
strong acids, oxoacids, epoxides, halogenated acids, chlorinated
rubber, bromine trifluoride. Reduction with hydrogen
forms toxic antimony hydride.
Description
This hard shiny metal is often alloyed to other
elements. It is used in various industrial fields, such
as those making or using batteries, printing machines,
bearing, textiles, and ceramics. It caused positive patch
test reactions in two workers in a ceramics industry.
Waste Disposal
Consult with environmental
regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal
practices. Generators of waste containing this contaminant
(≥100 kg/mo) must conform with EPA regulations governing
storage, transportation, treatment, and waste
disposal.
Physical properties
Occurs as colorless orthorhombic modifications, valentinite, or colorless cubic form, senarmontite; density 5.67 g/cm3 (valentinite), 5.20g/cm3 (senarmontite); cubic modification is dimeric consisting of Sb2O6 discrete molecules; refractive index 2.087; melts in the absence of oxygen at 656°C; boils at 1,550°C (sublimes); sublimes in vacuum at 400°C; very slightly soluble in water, insoluble in organic solvents; soluble in HCl, caustic alkalies and tartaric acid.
Occurrence
Antimony trioxide occurs in nature as minerals, valentinite [1317-98-2] and senarmontinite [12412-52-1]. It is used as a flame retardant in fabrics; as an opacifier in ceramics, glass and vitreous enamels; as a catalyst; as a white pigment in paints; as a mortar in the manufacture of tartar emetic; and in the production of metallic antimony.
Definition
A white insoluble solid. It is an
amphoteric oxide with a strong tendency
to act as a base. It can be prepared by direct
oxidation by air, oxygen, or steam and
is formed when antimony(III) chloride is
hydrolyzed by excess boiling water.
Preparation
Antimony trioxide is obtained by roasting stibnite:
2 Sb2S3 + 9 O2 → 2Sb2O3 + 6SO2
Temperature and air feed is carefully controlled in the process to suppress any formation of antimony tetroxide (Sb2O4). Antimony trioxide is separated from any arsenic trioxide (As2O3) that may be present as an impurity by volatilization, as the latter is much more volatile than the former. It may be also prepared by alkaline hydrolysis of antimony trichloride and subsequent dehydration of hydrous oxide under controlled heating (rapid or vigorous heating may partially oxidize Sb(III) to Sb(V).
Antimony trioxide also may be made by heating the metallic element with oxygen or air. The volatilizing trioxide is condensed and collected.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Machado-Joseph disease, also known as spinocerebellar ataxia-3, is an autosomal dominant neurologic disorder. The protein encoded by this gene contains (CAG)n repeats in the coding region, and the expansion of these repeats from the normal 13-36 to 68-79 is the cause of Machado-Joseph disease. There is a negative correlation between the age of onset and CAG repeat numbers. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been described for this gene. [provided by RefSeq]
storage
Color Code—Blue: Health Hazard/Poison: Store ina secure poison location. Prior to working with this chemicalyou should be trained on its proper handling and storage.Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilatedarea away from heat, strong oxidizers, acids. A regulated,marked area should be established where this chemical ishandled, used, or stored in compliance with OSHA Standard1910.1045.
Purification Methods
Dissolve the trioxide in the minimum volume of dilute HCl, filter, and add six volumes of water to precipitate the basic antimonous chloride (free from Fe and Sb2O5). The precipitate is redissolved in dilute HCl, and added slowly, with stirring, to a boiling solution (containing a slight excess) of Na2CO3. The oxide is filtered off, washed with hot water, then boiled and filtered. The process is repeated until the filtrate gives no test for chloride ions. The product is dried in a vacuum desiccator [Schuhmann J Am Chem Soc 46 52 1924]. After one crystallisation (precipitation), the oxide from a Chinese source had: metal (ppm) Al (8), Ag (0.2), As (56), Cr (6), Ge (0.4), Mn (0.2), Na (16), Ni (2.2) Pb (2.4), Sn (0.4) and V (32). It sublimes in a vacuum at 400o, being yellow on heating and pale buff in colour on cooling. [Schenk in Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry (Ed. Brauer) Academic Press Vol I p 615-616 1963.] Aqua regia. This is prepared by adding slowly concentrated HNO3 (1 volume) to concentrated hydrochloric acid (3 volumes) in a glass container. This mixture is used to dissolve metals, including noble metals and alloys, as well as minerals and refractory substances. It is done by suspending the material and boiling (EFFICIENT FUME CUPBOARD — EYE PROTECTION] to dryness and repeating the process until the residue dissolves in H2O. If the aqua regia is to be stored for long periods it is advisable to dilute it with one volume of H2O which will prevent it from releasing chlorine and other chloro and nitrous compounds which are objectionable and toxic. Store it cool in a fume cupboard. However, it is good laboratory practice to prepare it freshly and dispose of it down the fume cupboard sink with copious amounts of water.
