Antimony (III) oxide, technical

Oxide of antimony (III) — binary inorganic compound of metal of antimony and oxygen with a formula Sb2O3, white crystals, not soluble in water.
Oxide of antimony (III) forms white crystals which have two crystal modifications:

• α - Sb2O3, valentinit, the rhombic singoniya, space group P ccn, a cell parameters = 0,4914 nanometers, b = 1,2468 nanometers, c = 0,5421 nanometers, Z = 4, at a temperature of 572 °C turns into β - modification. . . . . . . . . .
• β - Sb2O3, senarmontit, a cubic singoniya, space group F d3m, a cell parameters = 1,1152 nanometers, Z = 8.

In a gas phase consists of dimer of Sb4O6.
Application:

• For receiving antimony of high purity.
• Component of optical glasses and enamels.
• Pigment.
• Pickle and fire - retarding agent