194 METALS AND THEIR COMBINATIONS. 



It is a reddish-brown, amorphous powder, insoluble in water, 

 soluble in hydrochloric acid or sodium hydrate. 



Antimony pentasulphide, Sb 2 S 5 (Golden sulphuret of antimony}. 

 A red powder, which, like antimonious sulphide, forms sulpho- 

 salts. It may be obtained by precipitation of acid solutions of 

 antimonic acid by hydrosulphuric acid. 



Antimonious chloride, SbCl 3 ( Terchloride of antimony, Butter of 

 antimony}. Obtained by boiling the native sulphide with hydro- 

 chloric acid : 



Sb 2 S s + 6HC1 = 3H 2 S + 2SbCl 3 . 



The clear solution is evaporated and the remaining chloride 

 distilled, when it is obtained as a white, crystalline, semi-trans- 

 parent mass. 



By passing chlorine over antimonious chloride it is con- 

 verted into antimonic chloride, SbCl 5 , which is a fuming liquid. 



Antimonious oxide, Antimonii oxidum, Sb 2 3 = 288 (Oxide of 

 antimony}. When antimonious chloride is added to water, de- 

 composition takes place, and an oxychloride of antimony, 

 :2SbCl 3 .5Sb 2 3 , is precipitated: 



12SbCl s + 15H 2 O = 2SbC] 3 .5Sb 2 O 3 + 3OHC1. 



This white precipitate was formerly known as powder of Alga- 

 roth. It is completely converted into oxide by treating it with 

 sodium carbonate : 



2SbCl 3 .5Sb 2 O 3 + 3Na 2 CO 3 = 6Sb 2 O 3 + 6JSTaCl + 3CO 2 . 



The precipitate, when washed and dried, is a heavy, grayish- 

 white, tasteless powder, insoluble in .water, soluble in acids. 

 Antimonious oxide, while yet moist, dissolves readily in potas- 

 sium acid tartrate, forming the double tartrate of potassium and 

 antimony, or tartar emetic, which salt will be more fully considered 

 hereafter. 



Antidotes. Poisonous doses of any preparation of antimony 

 are generally quickly followed by vomiting; if this, however, 



