Antimonous hydride

Chemical Properties

Stibine is a colorless gas. Characteristic disagreeable odor. It is produced by dissolving zinc/antimony or magnesium-antimony in hydrochloride acid

Uses

Stibine is used as a fumigating agent.Although the commercial application of thiscompound is limited, an exposure risk mayarise when it is formed as a result ofmixing an antimony compound with a strongreducing agent in the presence of acid.

Uses

Has been used as fumigating agent.

Preparation

The electrolytic preparation method of antimonous hydride uses a Pt anode and a Pt/Ir cathode in an electrolyte consisting of 1.7 liters of 4N H2SO4, 80 g of tartaric acid, and 8 g of Sb.

Definition

ChEBI: Stibane is an antimony hydride and a mononuclear parent hydride. It is a conjugate base of a stibonium.

General Description

A colorless gas with a disagreeable odor. A moderate fire hazard that may yield toxic fumes when heated above 392°F. Irritating to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Heavier than air. If exposed to prolonged fire or intense heat, the container may rupture violently or rocket.

Air & Water Reactions

Highly flammable.

Reactivity Profile

An explosion occurs if Antimonous hydride is heated with ammonia or chlorine. Antimonous hydride and concentrated nitric acid explode [Mellor 9:397 (1946-47)].

Hazard

Toxic.

Health Hazard

TOXIC; may be fatal if inhaled or absorbed through skin. Contact with gas or liquefied gas may cause burns, severe injury and/or frostbite. Fire will produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Runoff from fire control may cause pollution.

Health Hazard

Stibine is a highly toxic gas; the acuteand chronic effects are similar to those ofarsine. Exposure to 100 ppm in air for 1 hourwas lethal to mice and guinea pigs, causingdelayed death within 1-2 days. Thelethal concentration in air for humans isunknown. Like arsine, stibine is a hemolyticagent, causing injury to the kidney andliver. The toxicity is somewhat lower thanthat of arsine. In severe poisoning, deathcan result from renal failure and pulmonaryedema.
Stibine is an irritant to the lung. Othertoxic symptoms from inhaling this gas areheadache, weakness, nausea, and abdominalpain. There is no report on its carcinogenicityin animals or humans. Because of its similarityto arsine in chemical and toxicologicalproperties, stibine is expected to exhibit carcinogenicaction.
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Fire Hazard

Flammable; may be ignited by heat, sparks or flames. May form explosive mixtures with air. Vapors from liquefied gas are initially heavier than air and spread along ground. Vapors may travel to source of ignition and flash back. Some of these materials may react violently with water. Cylinders exposed to fire may vent and release toxic and flammable gas through pressure relief devices. Containers may explode when heated. Ruptured cylinders may rocket. Runoff may create fire or explosion hazard.

Safety Profile

Poison by inhalation. Potentially explosive decomposition at 200°C. Flammable when exposed to heat or flame. Explosive reaction with ammonia + heat, chlorine, concentrated nitric acid, ozone. Incompatible with oxidants. The decomposition products are hydrogen and metahc antimony. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of Sb. Used as a fumigating agent. See also ANTIMONY COMPOUNDS and HYDRIDES.

Potential Exposure

Stibine is used as a fumigating agent. Exposure to stibine usually occurs when stibine is released from antimony-containing alloys during the charging of storage batteries, when certain antimonial drosses are treated with water or acid, or when antimony-containing metals come in contact with acid. Operations generally involved are metallurgy, welding or cutting with blow torches; soldering, filling of hydrogen balloons; etching of zinc; and chemical processes.

Source

Produced accidentally as a result of the generation of nascent hydrogen in the presence of antimony; formed when acid solutions of antimony compounds are treated with reducing agents.

Shipping

UN2676 Stibine, Hazard Class: 2.3; Labels: 2.3-Poisonous gas, 2.1-Flammable gas, Hazard Zone A. UN3260 Corrosive solid, acidic, inorganic, n.o.s., Hazard class: 8; Labels: 8-Corrosive material, Technical Name Required. Cylinders must be transported in a secure upright position, in a well-ventilated truck. Protect cylinder and labels from physical damage. The owner of the compressed gas cylinder is the only entity allowed by federal law (49CFR) to transport and refill them. It is a violation of transportation regulations to refill compressed gas cylinders without the express written permission of the owner.

Toxicity evaluation

Extremely toxic

Incompatibilities

A highly flammable gas. Incompatible with acids, halogenated hydrocarbons; oxidizers, moisture, chlorine, ammonia. Reacts violently with chlorine, concentrated nitric acid or ozone. Decomposes in air. Thermally unstable: quick decomposition .190C producing metallic antimony and explosive hydrogen gas.

Waste Disposal

Return refillable compressed gas cylinders to supplier. Dissolve in hydrochloric acid; add water to produce precipitate; add acid to dissolve again; precipitate with H2S; filter and dry precipitate and return to supplier.

Raw materials

Preparation Products