Stibine

Stibine, with the chemical formula SbH3, is a colorless, volatile inorganic hydride of antimony. It is highly toxic and of primarily professional interest in inorganic chemistry and toxicology. In typical laboratory or industrial environments it is treated as a hazardous gas and is subject to strict handling and containment procedures.

Molecularly, stibine adopts a trigonal pyramidal geometry with antimony at the center and a lone pair occupying one vertex, giving it characteristic nonplanar shape. It is a gaseous compound at room temperature and has a relatively low boiling point for an antimony compound. The Sb–H bonds are short, and the molecule is reactive toward oxidizers and certain metal surfaces.

Stibine can be generated in the laboratory by reactions involving antimony compounds under reducing conditions, or as a byproduct in processes that involve reduction or transformation of antimony halides or oxides with hydrogen-containing reagents. It is not produced or sold as a bulk chemical for commercial use and is encountered mainly as a hazardous byproduct or in research contexts.

Hazards and handling are central to stibine’s profile. It is extremely toxic, with exposure risking hemolysis, methemoglobinemia, and severe organ injury. Because it is also a gas, it poses inhalation hazards and may form explosive mixtures with air under certain conditions. Handling requires appropriate engineering controls, gas-detection capabilities, and personal protective equipment, with storage and use limited to specialized facilities such as fume hoods and gas cabinets.

In the literature, stibine is discussed mainly in the context of toxicology, inorganic chemistry, and safety considerations for antimony-containing processes. See also arsenine and phosphine, related group 15 hydrides.