Antimonide

Antimonides (sometimes called stibnides or stibinides) are compounds of antimony with more electropositive elements. The antimonide ion is Sb³⁻.

Reduction of antimony by alkali metals or by other methods leads to alkali metal antimonides of various types.^[1] Known antimonides include isolated Sb³⁻ ions (in Li₃Sb, Na₃Sb), dumbbells Sb4−2 in Cs₄Sb₂, discrete antimony chains, for example, Sb8−6 in SrSb₃, infinite spirals (Sb⁻)_n (in NaSb, RbSb), planar four-membered rings Sb2−4, Sb3−7 cages in Cs₃Sb, and net shaped anions Sb2−3 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.