Antimonides (sometimes called stibnides) are
compounds of
antimony with more
electropositive elements. The antimonide
ion is Sb
3−.
Reduction of antimony by alkali metals or by other methods leads to alkali metal antimonides of various types.
Known antimonides include isolated Sb
3− ions (in Li
3Sb, Na
3Sb), dumbbells Sb
24− in Cs
4Sb
2, discrete antimony chains, for example, Sb
68− in SrSb
3, infinite spirals (Sb
−)
n (in NaSb, RbSb), planar four-membered rings Sb
42−, Sb
73− cages in Cs3Sb, and net shaped anions Sb
32− in BaSb
3.
Some antimonides are
semiconductors, e.g. those of the
boron group such as
indium antimonide. Many antimonides are flammable or decomposed by oxygen when heated since the antimonide ion is a reducing agent.
References
See also
*
Antimonide mineral
An antimonide mineral is a mineral that contains antimonide for its main anion. The antimonides are structurally similar to the sulfides and are grouped with them in both the Dana and Strunz mineral classification systems.
Examples include:
* Bre ...
Anions
Antimonides
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