Stibine
Encyclopedia
Stibine is the chemical compound
with the formula SbH3. This colourless gas is the principal covalent hydride of antimony
and a heavy analogue of ammonia
. The molecule is pyramidal with H–Sb–H angles of 91.7° and Sb–H distances of 1.707 Å
(170.7 pm
). This gas has an offensive smell like hydrogen sulfide
(rotten eggs).
Alternatively, sources of Sb3− react with protonic reagents (even water) to also produce this unstable gas:
. Typical for a heavy hydride (e.g. AsH3, H2Te, SnH4), SbH3 is unstable with respect to its elements. The gas decomposes slowly at room temperature but rapidly at 200 °C:
The decomposition is autocatalytic and can be explosive.
SbH3 is readily oxidized by O2 or even air:
SbH3 exhibits no basicity, but it can be deprotonated:
industry to dope
small quantities of antimony
via the process of chemical vapour deposition (CVD). Reports claim the use of SbH3 as a fumigant
but its instability and awkward preparation contrast with the more conventional fumigant phosphine
.
(AsH3), it is also detected by the Marsh test
. This sensitive test detects arsine generated in the presence of arsenic
. This procedure, developed around 1836 by James Marsh, is based upon treating a sample with arsenic-free zinc
and dilute sulfuric acid
: if the sample contains arsenic, gaseous arsine will form. The gas is swept into a glass tube and decomposed by means of heating around 250 – 300 °C. The presence of arsenic is indicated by formation of a deposit in the heated part of the equipment. The formation of a black mirror deposit in the cool part of the equipment indicates the presence of antimony
.
In 1837 Lewis Thomson and Pfaff
independently discovered stibine. It took some time before the properties of the toxic gas could be determined, partly because a suitable synthesis was not available. In 1876 Francis Jones tested several synthesis methods, but it was not before 1901 when Alfred Stock
determined most of the properties of stibine.
The toxicity of stibine is distinct from that of other antimony
compounds, but similar to that of arsine
. Stibine binds to the haemoglobin of red blood cells, causing them to be destroyed by the body. Most cases of stibine poisoning have been accompanied by arsine poisoning, although animal studies indicate that their toxicities are equivalent. The first signs of exposure, which can take several hours to become apparent, are headache
s, vertigo
and nausea
, followed by the symptoms of hemolytic anemia
(high levels of unconjugated bilirubin
), hemoglobinuria
and nephropathy
.
Chemical compound
A chemical compound is a pure chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemical elements that can be separated into simpler substances by chemical reactions. Chemical compounds have a unique and defined chemical structure; they consist of a fixed ratio of atoms that are held together...
with the formula SbH3. This colourless gas is the principal covalent hydride of antimony
Antimony
Antimony is a toxic chemical element with the symbol Sb and an atomic number of 51. A lustrous grey metalloid, it is found in nature mainly as the sulfide mineral stibnite...
and a heavy analogue of ammonia
Ammonia
Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...
. The molecule is pyramidal with H–Sb–H angles of 91.7° and Sb–H distances of 1.707 Å
Ångström
The angstrom or ångström, is a unit of length equal to 1/10,000,000,000 of a meter . Its symbol is the Swedish letter Å....
(170.7 pm
Picometre
A picometre is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one trillionth, i.e. of a metre, which is the current SI base unit of length...
). This gas has an offensive smell like hydrogen sulfide
Hydrogen sulfide
Hydrogen sulfide is the chemical compound with the formula . It is a colorless, very poisonous, flammable gas with the characteristic foul odor of expired eggs perceptible at concentrations as low as 0.00047 parts per million...
(rotten eggs).
Preparation
SbH3 is generally prepared by the reaction of Sb3+ sources with H− equivalents:- 2 Sb2O3 + 3 LiAlH4 → 4 SbH3 + 1.5 Li2O + 1.5 Al2O3
- 4 SbCl3 + 3 NaBH4 → 4 SbH3 + 3 NaCl + 3 BCl3
Alternatively, sources of Sb3− react with protonic reagents (even water) to also produce this unstable gas:
- Na3Sb + 3 H2O → SbH3 + 3 NaOH
Properties
The chemical properties of SbH3 resemble those for AsH3Arsine
Arsine is the chemical compound with the formula AsH3. This flammable, pyrophoric, and highly toxic gas is one of the simplest compounds of arsenic...
. Typical for a heavy hydride (e.g. AsH3, H2Te, SnH4), SbH3 is unstable with respect to its elements. The gas decomposes slowly at room temperature but rapidly at 200 °C:
-
- 2 SbH3 → 3 H2 + 2 Sb
The decomposition is autocatalytic and can be explosive.
SbH3 is readily oxidized by O2 or even air:
-
- 2 SbH3 + 3 O2 → Sb2O3 + 3 H2O
SbH3 exhibits no basicity, but it can be deprotonated:
-
- SbH3 + NaNH2 → NaSbH2 + NH3
Uses
Stibine is used in the semiconductorSemiconductor
A semiconductor is a material with electrical conductivity due to electron flow intermediate in magnitude between that of a conductor and an insulator. This means a conductivity roughly in the range of 103 to 10−8 siemens per centimeter...
industry to dope
Doping (semiconductor)
In semiconductor production, doping intentionally introduces impurities into an extremely pure semiconductor for the purpose of modulating its electrical properties. The impurities are dependent upon the type of semiconductor. Lightly and moderately doped semiconductors are referred to as extrinsic...
small quantities of antimony
Antimony
Antimony is a toxic chemical element with the symbol Sb and an atomic number of 51. A lustrous grey metalloid, it is found in nature mainly as the sulfide mineral stibnite...
via the process of chemical vapour deposition (CVD). Reports claim the use of SbH3 as a fumigant
Fumigation
Fumigation is a method of pest control that completely fills an area with gaseous pesticides—or fumigants—to suffocate or poison the pests within. It is utilized for control of pests in buildings , soil, grain, and produce, and is also used during processing of goods to be imported or...
but its instability and awkward preparation contrast with the more conventional fumigant phosphine
Phosphine
Phosphine is the compound with the chemical formula PH3. It is a colorless, flammable, toxic gas. Pure phosphine is odourless, but technical grade samples have a highly unpleasant odor like garlic or rotting fish, due to the presence of substituted phosphine and diphosphine...
.
History
As stibine (SbH3) is very similar to arsineArsine
Arsine is the chemical compound with the formula AsH3. This flammable, pyrophoric, and highly toxic gas is one of the simplest compounds of arsenic...
(AsH3), it is also detected by the Marsh test
Marsh test
The Marsh test is a highly sensitive method in the detection of arsenic, especially useful in the field of forensic toxicology when arsenic was used as a poison...
. This sensitive test detects arsine generated in the presence of arsenic
Arsenic
Arsenic is a chemical element with the symbol As, atomic number 33 and relative atomic mass 74.92. Arsenic occurs in many minerals, usually in conjunction with sulfur and metals, and also as a pure elemental crystal. It was first documented by Albertus Magnus in 1250.Arsenic is a metalloid...
. This procedure, developed around 1836 by James Marsh, is based upon treating a sample with arsenic-free zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
and dilute sulfuric acid
Sulfuric acid
Sulfuric acid is a strong mineral acid with the molecular formula . Its historical name is oil of vitriol. Pure sulfuric acid is a highly corrosive, colorless, viscous liquid. The salts of sulfuric acid are called sulfates...
: if the sample contains arsenic, gaseous arsine will form. The gas is swept into a glass tube and decomposed by means of heating around 250 – 300 °C. The presence of arsenic is indicated by formation of a deposit in the heated part of the equipment. The formation of a black mirror deposit in the cool part of the equipment indicates the presence of antimony
Antimony
Antimony is a toxic chemical element with the symbol Sb and an atomic number of 51. A lustrous grey metalloid, it is found in nature mainly as the sulfide mineral stibnite...
.
In 1837 Lewis Thomson and Pfaff
Pfaff
--------Pfaff is a manufacturer of sewing machines and is now owned by the VSM Group AB.- History :Pfaff was founded in Kaiserslautern Germany in 1862 by guitar player Matthew Pfaff . Pfaff's first machine was hand-made, and designed to sew leather in the manufacture of shoes.- External links :*...
independently discovered stibine. It took some time before the properties of the toxic gas could be determined, partly because a suitable synthesis was not available. In 1876 Francis Jones tested several synthesis methods, but it was not before 1901 when Alfred Stock
Alfred Stock
Alfred Stock was a German inorganic chemist. He did pioneering research on the hydrides of boron and silicon, coordination chemistry, mercury, and mercury poisoning...
determined most of the properties of stibine.
Safety
SbH3 is an unstable flammable gas. It is highly toxic, with an LC50 of 100 ppm in mice. Fortunately, SbH3 is so unstable that it is rarely encountered outside of laboratories.Toxicology
- For the toxicology of other antimonyAntimonyAntimony is a toxic chemical element with the symbol Sb and an atomic number of 51. A lustrous grey metalloid, it is found in nature mainly as the sulfide mineral stibnite...
compounds, see Antimony trioxideAntimony trioxideAntimony trioxide is the inorganic compound with the formula Sb2O3. It is the most important commercial compound of antimony. It is found in nature as the minerals valentinite and senarmontite...
.
The toxicity of stibine is distinct from that of other antimony
Antimony
Antimony is a toxic chemical element with the symbol Sb and an atomic number of 51. A lustrous grey metalloid, it is found in nature mainly as the sulfide mineral stibnite...
compounds, but similar to that of arsine
Arsine
Arsine is the chemical compound with the formula AsH3. This flammable, pyrophoric, and highly toxic gas is one of the simplest compounds of arsenic...
. Stibine binds to the haemoglobin of red blood cells, causing them to be destroyed by the body. Most cases of stibine poisoning have been accompanied by arsine poisoning, although animal studies indicate that their toxicities are equivalent. The first signs of exposure, which can take several hours to become apparent, are headache
Headache
A headache or cephalalgia is pain anywhere in the region of the head or neck. It can be a symptom of a number of different conditions of the head and neck. The brain tissue itself is not sensitive to pain because it lacks pain receptors. Rather, the pain is caused by disturbance of the...
s, vertigo
Vertigo (medical)
Vertigo is a type of dizziness, where there is a feeling of motion when one is stationary. The symptoms are due to a dysfunction of the vestibular system in the inner ear...
and nausea
Nausea
Nausea , is a sensation of unease and discomfort in the upper stomach with an involuntary urge to vomit. It often, but not always, precedes vomiting...
, followed by the symptoms of hemolytic anemia
Hemolytic anemia
Hemolytic anemia is a form of anemia due to hemolysis, the abnormal breakdown of red blood cells , either in the blood vessels or elsewhere in the human body . It has numerous possible causes, ranging from relatively harmless to life-threatening...
(high levels of unconjugated bilirubin
Bilirubin
Bilirubin is the yellow breakdown product of normal heme catabolism. Heme is found in hemoglobin, a principal component of red blood cells. Bilirubin is excreted in bile and urine, and elevated levels may indicate certain diseases...
), hemoglobinuria
Hemoglobinuria
In medicine, hemoglobinuria or haemoglobinuria is a condition in which the oxygen transport protein hemoglobin is found in abnormally high concentrations in the urine. The condition is often associated with hemolytic anemia, in which red blood cells are destroyed, thereby increasing levels of free...
and nephropathy
Nephropathy
Nephropathy refers to damage to or disease of the kidney. An older term for this is nephrosis.-Causes:Causes of nephropathy include administration of analgesics, xanthine oxidase deficiency, and long-term exposure to lead or its salts...
.
See also
- AntimonyAntimonyAntimony is a toxic chemical element with the symbol Sb and an atomic number of 51. A lustrous grey metalloid, it is found in nature mainly as the sulfide mineral stibnite...
(Sb) - ArsineArsineArsine is the chemical compound with the formula AsH3. This flammable, pyrophoric, and highly toxic gas is one of the simplest compounds of arsenic...
(AsH3) - Devarda's alloyDevarda's alloyDevarda's alloy , is an alloy of aluminium , copper and zinc ....
, also used to produce arsine and stibine in the lab - List of highly toxic gases
- Marsh testMarsh testThe Marsh test is a highly sensitive method in the detection of arsenic, especially useful in the field of forensic toxicology when arsenic was used as a poison...
, first used to analyse AsH3 and SbH3 - James Marsh invented in 1836 the test bearing now his name
- Nascent hydrogenNascent hydrogenAtomic hydrogen is the species denoted by H , contrasted with dihydrogen, the usual 'hydrogen' commonly involved in chemical reactions. It is claimed to exist transiently but long enough to effect chemical reactions...