Antimonide

Antimonides (sometimes called stibnides or stibinides) are compounds of antimony with more electropositive elements. The antimonide ion is Sb(3−).

Reduction of antimony by alkali metals or by other methods leads to alkali metal antimonides of various types. Known antimonides include isolated Sb(3−) ions (in Li3Sb, Na3Sb), dumbbells Sb2(4−) in Cs4Sb2, discrete antimony chains, for example, Sb6(8−) in SrSb3, infinite spirals (Sb−)_{n} (in NaSb, RbSb), planar four-membered rings Sb4(2−), Sb7(3−) cages in Cs3Sb, and net shaped anions Sb3(2−) in BaSb3.

Some antimonides are semiconductors, e.g. those of the boron group such as indium antimonide. Many antimonides are flammable or decomposed by oxygen when heated since the antimonide ion is a reducing agent.