| 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(III) sulfide is used as a red dye in rubber vulcanization. It is used as catalyst, additive, anti- blushing agent, heat stabilizer and used in the production of ruby-colored glass and in plastics as a flame retardant. |
| Uses | In pyrotechnics, Bengal fires; manufacture of ruby glass, matches, explosives; as a pigment in paints. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Hazard | Explosion risk in contact with oxidizing
materials. Questionable carcinogen. |
| Flammability and Explosibility | Nonflammable |
| Safety Profile | Poison by
intraperitoneal route. Human blood and
gastrointestinal system effects by inhalation.
Questionable carcinogen. See also
ANTIMONY COMPOUNDS and
SULFIDES. Spontaneously flammable
when exposed to strong oxidizers.
Flammable when exposed to heat or flame.
Moderately explosive by spontaneous
reaction with chlorates, perchlorates, Cl0,
thallic oxide. When heated to decomposition
or on contact with acid or acid fumes it
emits highly toxic fumes of oxides of sulfur
and antimony. Will react with water or
steam to produce toxic and flammable
vapors. |
