Antimonide
Antimonides (sometimes called stibnides or stibinides) are compounds of antimony with more electropositive elements. The antimonide ion is . Reduction of antimony by alkali metals or by other methods leads to alkali metal antimonides of various types. Known antimonides include isolated ions (in , ), dumbbells in , discrete antimony chains, for example, in , infinite spirals (in NaSb, RbSb), planar four-membered rings , cages in , and net shaped anions in . 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. References See also Antimonide mineral Anions Antimonides