Bismuth(III) sulfide

Bismuth(III) sulfide
IUPAC name Bismuth(III) sulfide
Other names Bismuth sulfide Dibismuth trisulfide
Identifiers
CAS number	1345-07-9 Y
ChemSpider	141425 Y
Jmol-3D images	Image 1
SMILES [BiH3+3].[BiH3+3].[S-2].[S-2].[S-2]
InChI InChI=1S/2Bi.3S/q2*+3;3*-2 Y Key: YNRGZHRFBQOYPP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y InChI=1/2Bi.3S/q2*+3;3*-2 Key: YNRGZHRFBQOYPP-UHFFFAOYAA
Properties
Molecular formula	Bi2S3
Molar mass	514.16 g/mol
Appearance	brown powder
Density	6.78 g/cm3
Melting point	775 ˚C
Solubility in water	insoluble
Solubility	soluble in acids
Hazards
R-phrases	R36/37/38
S-phrases	S26, S37
Main hazards	Irritant
Y (verify) (what is: Y/N?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Bismuth(III) sulfide is a chemical compound of bismuth and sulfur. It occurs in nature as the mineral bismuthinite.

Synthesis

Bismuth(III) sulfide can be prepared by reacting a bismuth(III) salt with hydrogen sulfide:

$\mathrm{2 \ Bi^{3+} + 3 \ H_2S \longrightarrow \ Bi_2S_3 + 6 \ H^+}$

Bismuth (III) sulfide can also be prepared by the reaction of elemental bismuth and elemental sulfur in an evacuated silica tube at 500 °C for 96 hours.

$\mathrm{2 \ Bi + 3 \ S \longrightarrow \ Bi_2S_3 }$

Properties

Bismuth(III) sulfide has a trigonal prismatic crystal structure. It can react with acids to produce the odoriferous hydrogen sulfide gas.

Uses

It is used as a starting material to produce many other bismuth compounds.