Diantimony pentoxide

Chemical properties

yellow powder

Physical properties

Yellow powdery solid; density 3.80 g/ cm³; very slightly soluble in water; hydrated pentoxide is insoluble in nitric acid; dissolves in an aqueous solution of caustic potash.

The Uses of Diantimony pentoxide

Fire retardant in clothing.

The Uses of Diantimony pentoxide

Antimony pentoxide (Sb2O3) is used as a flame retardant for textile materials and as a source to prepare other antimony compounds.

The Uses of Diantimony pentoxide

It is used as flame retardants in acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) polymer, plastics, rubbers, paper and textiles. It finds use as a flocculant in the production of titanium dioxide. It also finds use in ion-exchange resin. It is also employed as catalyst in certain polymerization and oxidation reactions.

Definition

A yellow solid. It is usually formed by the action of concentrated nitric acid on antimony or by the hydrolysis of antimony(V) chloride. Although an acidic oxide, it is only slightly soluble in water.

Preparation

The hydrated oxide is prepared by hydrolysis of antimony pentachloride; or by acidification of potassium hexahydroxoantimonate(V), KSb(OH)₆ [12208- 13-8]. The product, filtered and air dried at ambient temperature has approximate composition Sb₂O₅ ? 3.5H₂O. It may be also prepared by oxidation of antimony trioxide with nitric acid.

Flammability and Explosibility

Non flammable

Safety Profile

Moderately toxic by intraperitoneal route. See also ANTIMONY COMPOUNDS.