Antimony oxychloride

(Redirected from Algaroth powder)

Antimony oxychloride, known since the 15th century, has been known by a plethora of alchemical names. Since the compound functions as both an emetic and a laxative, it was originally used as a purgative.

Antimony oxychloride[1]
Names
IUPAC name
antimony oxide chloride
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.029.308 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 232-238-8
  • Sb4O5Cl2: 235-347-9
UNII
  • InChI=1S/ClH.O.Sb/h1H;;/q;-2;+3/p-1
    Key: LIRSFCJKZQBJRK-UHFFFAOYSA-M
  • Sb4O5Cl2: InChI=1S/2ClH.5O.4Sb/h2*1H;;;;;;;;;/q;;5*-2;4*+3/p-2
    Key: QXGIXMVRTVXTKM-UHFFFAOYSA-L
  • [O-2].[Cl-].[Sb+3]
  • Sb4O5Cl2: [O-2].[O-2].[O-2].[O-2].[O-2].[Cl-].[Cl-].[Sb+3].[Sb+3].[Sb+3].[Sb+3]
Properties
SbOCl
Molar mass 173.21 g/mol
Melting point 280 °C (536 °F; 553 K)
insoluble
Related compounds
Related compounds
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
☒N verify (what is checkY☒N ?)

History

edit

Its production was first described by Basil Valentine in Currus Triumphalis Antimonii. In 1659, Johann Rudolf Glauber gave a relatively exact chemical interpretation of the reaction.

Vittorio Algarotti introduced the substance into medicine, and derivatives of his name (algarot, algoroth) were associated with this compound for many years.

The exact composition was unknown for a very long time. The suggestion of SbOCl being a mixture of antimony trichloride and antimony oxide or pure SbOCl were raised. Today the hydrolysis of antimony trichloride is understood; first the SbOCl oxychloride is formed which later forms Sb4O5Cl2.

Natural occurrence

edit

Neither SbOCl nor the latter compound occur naturally. However, onoratoite is a known Sb-O-Cl mineral, its composition being Sb8Cl2O11.[2][3][4][5][6]

Alternative historical names

edit
  • mercurius vitæ ("mercury of life")
  • powder of algaroth[7]
  • algarel
  • Pulvis angelicus.

Synthesis

edit

Dissolving antimony trichloride in water yields antimony oxychloride:

SbCl3 + H2O → SbOCl + 2 HCl

References

edit
  1. ^ Nurgaliev, B. Z.; Popovkin, B. A.; Novoselova, A. V. (1981). "Physiochemical analysis of antimony trioxide–antimony trichloride, antimony trioxide–antimony tribromide systems". Zhurnal Neorganicheskoi Khimii. 26 (4): 1043–1047.
  2. ^ Mayerová, Zuzana; Johnsson, Mats; Lidin, Sven (2006). "The structure of onoratoite, (, Br) revisited". Solid State Sciences. 8 (7): 849–854. doi:10.1016/j.solidstatesciences.2006.04.010. ISSN 1293-2558.
  3. ^ Menchetti, S.; Sabelli, C.; Trosti-Ferroni, R. (1984). "The structures of onoratoite, Sb8O11Cl2 and Sb8O11Cl2.6H2O". Acta Crystallographica Section C. 40 (9): 1506–1510. Bibcode:1984AcCrC..40.1506M. doi:10.1107/S0108270184008532. ISSN 0108-2701.
  4. ^ Belluomini, G.; Fornaseri, M.; Nicoletti, M. (2018). "Onoratoite, a new antimony oxychloride, from Cetine di Cotorniano, Rosia (Siena, Italy)". Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society. 36 (284): 1037–1044. doi:10.1180/minmag.1968.036.284.01. ISSN 0369-0148.
  5. ^ Roper, Adam J.; Leverett, Peter; Murphy, Timothy D.; Williams, Peter A. (2018). "The stability of onoratoite, Sb8O11Cl2, in the supergene environment". Mineralogical Magazine. 78 (7): 1671–1675. doi:10.1180/minmag.2014.078.7.10. ISSN 0026-461X. S2CID 99331237.
  6. ^ Lidin, Sven; Johnsson, Mats; Hugonin, Zuzana (2009). "Modulations in the onoratoite system". Solid State Sciences. 11 (7): 1198–1205. Bibcode:2009SSSci..11.1198L. doi:10.1016/j.solidstatesciences.2009.03.009. ISSN 1293-2558.
  7. ^ Lavoisier, Antoine-Laurent de (1743-1794). Auteur du texte (1789). Traité élémentaire de chimie, présenté dans un ordre nouveau, et d'après les découvertes modernes; Avec figures; Par M. Lavoisier,... [Treatise Elementary of Chemistry, Presented in a New Order, and after the Discoveries Modern; with Figures; by M. Lavoisier, ... (author of text)] (in French). France: A Paris, chez Cuchet, libraire, rue & hôtel Serpente. M. DCC. LXXXIX. Sous le privilège de l'Académie des sciences & de la Société royale de médecine. pp. Préliminaire XXV, "poudre d'algaroth".{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

Further reading

edit