Antimonide Explained

Antimonides (sometimes called stibnides or stibinides) are compounds of antimony with more electropositive elements. The antimonide ion is .

Reduction of antimony by alkali metals or by other methods leads to alkali metal antimonides of various types.[1] Known antimonides include isolated ions (in,), dumbbells in, discrete antimony chains, for example, in, infinite spirals (in NaSb, RbSb), planar four-membered rings, cages in, and net shaped anions in .

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

  1. Book: King . R. Bruse . Encyclopedia of Inorganic Chemistry, Second Edition (10 Volume Set) . 2005 . Wiley . 9780470860786 . 211 . 2nd.

See also