Hazard
Explosion risk in contact with oxidizing
materials. Questionable carcinogen.
Chemical Properties
black powder
Physical properties
Natural stibnite is black orthorhombic crystal; or grayish-black powder; the compound also exists as an amorphous substance in yellow-red modification; distorted octahedral arrangement; density 4.64 g/cm3 for the natural stibnite and 4.12 g/cm3 for the red modification; melts at 550°C; vaporizes around 1150°C; insoluble in water (1.75mg/L at 18°C) and acetic acid; soluble in hydrochloric acid and caustic soda solution; also, soluble in alcohol, ammonium hydrosulfide and potassium sulfide.
Occurrence
Antimony trisulfide occurs in nature primarily as the mineral, stibnite, which consists of two parallel Sb4S6 chains linked together. It is used in fireworks; in certain types of safety matches; as a pigment in paints; and in the manufacture of ruby glass.
Uses
Antimony trisulfide is better known as the mineral stibnite
and is used as a yellow paint pigment and in the manufacture of ruby glass, fireworks, and
matches. It is also used to make percussion caps that set off explosives.
Uses
In pyrotechnics, Bengal fires; manufacture of ruby glass, matches, explosives; as a pigment in paints.
Preparation
The pure sulphide is obtained from its ore. Stibnite is separated from other ores by grinding and flotation. The ore is then heated to 550-600°C in a perforated vessel. The pure molten material is collected and cooled. It is also prepared by passing hydrogen sulfide into a solution of antimony trichloride:
2 SbCl3 + 3 H2S → Sb2S3 + 6 HCl
or treating antimony trichloride solution with sodium thiosulfate.
Alternatively, heating antimony metal or antimony trioxide with sulfur forms antimony trisulfide:2 Sb + 3 S → Sb2S3
2 Sb2O3 + 9 S → 2 Sb2S3 + 3 SO2
All these above preparative methods yield amorphous antimony trisulfide.
Flammability and Explosibility
Nonflammable