Antimonide
Antimonides are compounds of antimony with more electropositive elements. The antimonide ion is but the term refers also to any anionic derivative of antimony.
Antimonides are often prepared by heating the elements. Alternatively, sodium electride in ammonia dissolves antimony to give an antimonide upon evaporation.
The reduction of antimony leads to alkali metal antimonides of various types, depending on stoichiometry. Known antimonides include isolated ions. Other motifs include dumbbells in, discrete antimony chains, for example, in, infinite spirals , planar four-membered rings, cages in, and net shaped anions in.
Some antimonides are semiconductors, e.g. those of the boron group such as indium antimonide. Being reducing, many antimonides are decomposed by oxygen.