Stibine facts for kids
Stibine is a chemical compound. You might also hear it called antimony hydride. Its chemical formula is SbH3. This means it has one antimony atom and three hydrogen atoms joined together. It's a type of compound where atoms share electrons, called a covalent compound.
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What is Stibine Like?
Stibine is a gas that has no color. It is very dangerous because it is highly toxic, meaning it's poisonous. It also has a really bad smell, a bit like rotten eggs (which is hydrogen sulfide).
Its shape is similar to another common gas called ammonia.
Scientists can find stibine using a special test called the Marsh test. This test is often used to look for arsenic, but it can also show if antimony is present. Here's how it works:
- Antimony is mixed with zinc and hydrochloric acid in a tube.
- This reaction creates stibine gas.
- When the stibine gas is heated, it breaks down.
- It leaves behind a shiny, mirror-like spot of antimony metal inside the tube.
Stibine breaks down easily into antimony and hydrogen gas even at room temperature. This breaking down can sometimes happen very quickly, causing an explosion. It also burns very easily in the air. When it burns, it creates a white powder called antimony trioxide and water.
Stibine turns into a liquid at a very cold temperature, about -88°C (which is -126°F). It boils and turns back into a gas at -17°C (which is 1°F).
How Stibine Was Discovered
Stibine was first found in 1837. For a long time, it was hard for scientists to study its properties. This was because they didn't have a good way to make enough of it.
Then, in 1901, a scientist named Alfred Stock found a much better way to create this gas. Thanks to his method, scientists were able to learn most of what we know about stibine today.
How Stibine is Made
Scientists can make stibine in a few ways:
- One common way is to react a compound containing antimonide with a strong acid.
- Some antimonide compounds can even react with just water to produce stibine gas.
- Another method involves reacting an antimony(III) compound, like antimony trioxide, with a hydride compound.
What is Stibine Used For?
Stibine has a few specific uses:
- It is used to add tiny amounts of antimony to semiconductors. This process is called doping. It helps change how electricity flows through these materials, which are important for electronics like computer chips.
- Some people have suggested using stibine as a fumigant. A fumigant is a chemical gas used to kill pests. However, another gas called phosphine works much better for this purpose.
Safety Information About Stibine
Stibine is a very toxic gas. It is as dangerous as phosphine, another poisonous gas. However, stibine is also very unstable. This means it breaks down quickly. Because of this, it usually doesn't pose a danger outside of a laboratory setting where it is being made or used.
Related Pages
- Arsine
- Bismuthine
- Aluminium antimonide
In Spanish: Estibano para niños
