Boron sulfide
Encyclopedia
Boron sulfide is the chemical compound
with the formula
B2S3. This polymeric material that has been of interest as a component of “high-tech” glasses and as a reagent for preparing organosulfur compounds. Like the sulfides of silicon and phosphorus, B2S3 reacts with water, including atmospheric moisture to release H2S
. Thus, samples must be handled under anhydrous conditions.
Like the boron oxides, B2S3 readily forms glass
es when blended with other sulfides such as P4S10
. Such glasses absorb lower frequencies of Infra-red energy relative to conventional borosilicate glasses.
B2S3 converts ketone
s into the corresponding thiones. For example, the conversion of benzophenone
to its thione proceeds as follows:
In practice, B2S3 would be used in excess.
with hydrogen sulfide
at temperatures of 300°C.
The first synthesis was done by Jöns Jakob Berzelius
in 1824 by direct reaction of amorphous boron
with sulfur
vapor.
Another synthesis was favoured by Friedrich Wöhler
and Henri Etienne Sainte-Claire Deville
first published in 1858, starting from boron and hydrogen sulfide
.
Chemical compound
A chemical compound is a pure chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemical elements that can be separated into simpler substances by chemical reactions. Chemical compounds have a unique and defined chemical structure; they consist of a fixed ratio of atoms that are held together...
with the formula
Chemical formula
A chemical formula or molecular formula is a way of expressing information about the atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound....
B2S3. This polymeric material that has been of interest as a component of “high-tech” glasses and as a reagent for preparing organosulfur compounds. Like the sulfides of silicon and phosphorus, B2S3 reacts with water, including atmospheric moisture to release H2S
Hydrogen sulfide
Hydrogen sulfide is the chemical compound with the formula . It is a colorless, very poisonous, flammable gas with the characteristic foul odor of expired eggs perceptible at concentrations as low as 0.00047 parts per million...
. Thus, samples must be handled under anhydrous conditions.
Like the boron oxides, B2S3 readily forms glass
Glass
Glass is an amorphous solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent.The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives...
es when blended with other sulfides such as P4S10
Phosphorus pentasulfide
Phosphorus pentasulfide is the inorganic compound with the formula P4S10. This yellow solid is the one of two phosphorus sulfides of commercial value...
. Such glasses absorb lower frequencies of Infra-red energy relative to conventional borosilicate glasses.
B2S3 converts ketone
Ketone
In organic chemistry, a ketone is an organic compound with the structure RCR', where R and R' can be a variety of atoms and groups of atoms. It features a carbonyl group bonded to two other carbon atoms. Many ketones are known and many are of great importance in industry and in biology...
s into the corresponding thiones. For example, the conversion of benzophenone
Benzophenone
Benzophenone is the organic compound with the formula 2CO, generally abbreviated Ph2CO. Benzophenone is a widely used building block in organic chemistry, being the parent diarylketone.-Uses:...
to its thione proceeds as follows:
- + 3 → + 3
In practice, B2S3 would be used in excess.
Synthesis
Besides other methods the boron sulfide can be obtained by the reaction of iron or manganese borideBoride
In chemistry a boride is a chemical compound between boron and a less electronegative element, for example silicon boride . The borides are a very large group of compounds that are generally high melting and are not ionic in nature. Some borides exhibit very useful physical properties. The term...
with hydrogen sulfide
Hydrogen sulfide
Hydrogen sulfide is the chemical compound with the formula . It is a colorless, very poisonous, flammable gas with the characteristic foul odor of expired eggs perceptible at concentrations as low as 0.00047 parts per million...
at temperatures of 300°C.
- 2 FeB + 4 H2S → B2S3 + FeS + 4 H2
The first synthesis was done by Jöns Jakob Berzelius
Jöns Jakob Berzelius
Jöns Jacob Berzelius was a Swedish chemist. He worked out the modern technique of chemical formula notation, and is together with John Dalton, Antoine Lavoisier, and Robert Boyle considered a father of modern chemistry...
in 1824 by direct reaction of amorphous boron
Boron
Boron is the chemical element with atomic number 5 and the chemical symbol B. Boron is a metalloid. Because boron is not produced by stellar nucleosynthesis, it is a low-abundance element in both the solar system and the Earth's crust. However, boron is concentrated on Earth by the...
with sulfur
Sulfur
Sulfur or sulphur is the chemical element with atomic number 16. In the periodic table it is represented by the symbol S. It is an abundant, multivalent non-metal. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms form cyclic octatomic molecules with chemical formula S8. Elemental sulfur is a bright yellow...
vapor.
- 2 B + 3 S → B2S3
Another synthesis was favoured by Friedrich Wöhler
Friedrich Wöhler
Friedrich Wöhler was a German chemist, best known for his synthesis of urea, but also the first to isolate several chemical elements.-Biography:He was born in Eschersheim, which belonged to aau...
and Henri Etienne Sainte-Claire Deville
Henri Etienne Sainte-Claire Deville
Henri Étienne Sainte-Claire Deville was a French chemist.He was born in the island of St Thomas, West Indies, where his father was French consul. Together with his elder brother Charles he was educated in Paris at the College Rollin...
first published in 1858, starting from boron and hydrogen sulfide
Hydrogen sulfide
Hydrogen sulfide is the chemical compound with the formula . It is a colorless, very poisonous, flammable gas with the characteristic foul odor of expired eggs perceptible at concentrations as low as 0.00047 parts per million...
.
- 2 B + 3 H2S → B2S3 + 3 H2