Antimony(III) oxide
| Names | |
|---|---|
| IUPAC name
Antimony(III) oxide
| |
| Systematic IUPAC name
Antimony trioxide | |
| Other names
Antimony sesquioxide
Antimonous oxide Dioxodistiboxane Flowers of Antimony | |
| Properties | |
| Sb2O3 | |
| Molar mass | 291.518 g/mol |
| Appearance | White solid |
| Odor | Odorless |
| Density | 5.2 g/cm3 (α-form) 5.67 g/cm3 (β-form) |
| Melting point | 656 °C (1,213 °F; 929 K) |
| Boiling point | 1,425 °C (2,597 °F; 1,698 K) |
| 0.0033 g/100 ml (at 20 °C) | |
| Hazards | |
| Safety data sheet | Sigma-Aldrich |
| Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC): | |
| LD50 (Median dose)
|
7,000 mg/kg (rat, oral) |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds
|
Antimony(V) oxide |
| Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |
| Infobox references | |
Antimony(III) oxide or antimony trioxide is an important oxide of antimony, having the chemical formula Sb2O3.
It is found in nature as the minerals senarmontite and valentinite.
Contents
Properties
Chemical
Antimony(III) oxide reacts with acids to form antimony salts, which may hydrolyze if the pH is not low enough.
Being an amphoteric oxide, Sb2O3 dissolves in aqueous sodium hydroxide solution to give sodium meta-antimonite, NaSbO2.
Physical
Antimony trioxide is a white solid insoluble in water.
Availability
Antimony(III) oxide is sold by various chemical suppliers.
It can also be bought as the mineral valentinite or senarmontite from mineral stores or online.
Preparation
Can be prepared by roasting antimony in air. Stibnite (antimony(III) sulfide) can also be used.
Dissolving lead-antimony alloys (found in car battery and wheel weights) in acid in the presence of an oxidizer (oxygen or hydrogen peroxide) will give lead salts and antimony oxide/oxyacid, which precipitate as a superfine powder. Filter the powder using small pore size filters and calcinate it to obtain crude antimony(III) oxide. The antimony oxide obtained this way is heavily contaminated with lead oxides and further purification is required to obtain a relative pure compound.
Projects
- Make elemental antimony
- Catalyst in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) synthesis
- Glass, ceramic and enamel opacifying agent
Handling
Safety
Antimony trioxide is harmful and should be handles with proper protection.
Storage
In closed bottles, away from acids.
Disposal
Should be taken to waste disposal centers or recycled.
