Sodium hydroselenide is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula NaSeH. It is a salt of hydrogen selenide. It consist of sodium cations Na+ and hydroselenide anions SeH. Each unit consists of one sodium, one selenium, and one hydrogen atom. Sodium hydroselenide is a selenium analog of sodium hydroxide NaOH.

Sodium hydroselenide
Names
IUPAC name
Sodium hydroselenide
Other names
Sodium biselenide
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
  • InChI=1S/Na.H2Se/h;1H2/q+1;/p-1
    Key: RBRLCUAPGJEAOP-UHFFFAOYSA-M
  • [Na+].[SeH-]
Properties
NaSeH
Molar mass 102.969 g·mol−1
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Production

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Sodium hydroselenide can be made by reducing selenium with sodium borohydride:

Se + Na[BH4] → NaSeH + BH3(g)

Alternatively it can be made from sodium ethoxide exposed to hydrogen selenide:[1]

CH3CH2ONa+ + H2Se → NaSeH + CH3CH2OH

Sodium hydroselenide is not made for storage, instead it is used immediately after production in a fume hood thanks to the appalling odour of hydrogen selenide.

Properties

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Sodium hydroselenide dissolves in water or ethanol. In humid air sodium hydroselenide is changed to sodium polyselenide and elemental selenium.[1]

Sodium hydroselenide is slightly reducing.[1]

In organic synthesis, hydrogen sodium hydroselenide is a nucleophillic agent for insertion of selenium.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Młochowski, Jacek; Syper, Ludwik (2001). "Sodium Hydrogen Selenide". Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis. doi:10.1002/047084289X.rs079. ISBN 0471936235.