Tungsten trisulfide is an
inorganic compound
An inorganic compound is typically a chemical compound that lacks carbon–hydrogen bondsthat is, a compound that is not an organic compound. The study of inorganic compounds is a subfield of chemistry known as ''inorganic chemistry''.
Inorgan ...
of
tungsten
Tungsten (also called wolfram) is a chemical element; it has symbol W and atomic number 74. It is a metal found naturally on Earth almost exclusively in compounds with other elements. It was identified as a distinct element in 1781 and first ...
and
sulfur
Sulfur ( American spelling and the preferred IUPAC name) or sulphur ( Commonwealth spelling) is a chemical element; it has symbol S and atomic number 16. It is abundant, multivalent and nonmetallic. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms ...
with the chemical formula WS
3. The compound looks like chocolate-brown powder.
Synthesis
1. Bubbling
hydrogen sulfide
Hydrogen sulfide is a chemical compound with the formula . It is a colorless chalcogen-hydride gas, and is toxic, corrosive, and flammable. Trace amounts in ambient atmosphere have a characteristic foul odor of rotten eggs. Swedish chemist ...
through hot acidified solution of tungstenates.
2. Reaction of
tungsten disulfide
Tungsten disulfide is an inorganic chemical compound composed of tungsten and sulfur with the chemical formula WS2. This compound is part of the group of materials called the transition metal dichalcogenides. It occurs naturally as the rare miner ...
and elemental sulfur on heating:
:
3. Precipitates upon acidification of
thiotungstate solutions:
:
:
Physical properties
Slightly soluble in cold water and forms colloidal solution in hot water.
Soluble in alkali metal carbonates and alkali metal hydroxides.
Chemical properties
Tungsten trisulfide can be decomposed by heating into tungsten disulfide and elemental sulfur:
:
Reacts with sulfide solutions:
:
Reduced by hydrogen:
:
References
{{Tungsten compounds
Tungsten compounds
Sulfides