d. From crude sulphide of antimony (powdered), 25 lbs.; strongest commercial hydrochloric acid, 1 cwt.; nitric acid, 31⁄2 lbs.; as before; the product being coloured with a little pernitrate of iron, and made up to the sp. gr. 1·4. The quality is improved, and the process more easily conducted, if the crude antimony is roasted before dissolving it in the acid. The same applies to the other formulæ.
Prop., &c.—a. Solid. When pure, and nearly free from water, it somewhat resembles butter, melts with a gentle heat, and partially crystallises on cooling; is very deliquescent, and quickly passes into an oily liquid when exposed to damp air; very soluble in strong hydrochloric acid; water, according to its quantity, more or less decomposes it. When perfectly pure and anhydrous, it forms a white and highly crystalline mass, rapidly decomposed by air and moisture.—b. Solution. The sp. gr. of the solution of the shops varies from 1·25 to 1·4, in which state it is a transparent fuming yellow liquid (unless when artificially coloured), and extremely acid and caustic. Submitted to distillation, it at first parts with its water and excess of acid, after which the salt itself is volatilised. By changing the receiver as soon as the distillate concretes on cooling, or produces a copious white precipitate on falling into the liquid already passed over, the pure ANHYDROUS TRICHLORIDE may be readily obtained.
Phys. eff., Ant., Lesions, &c. See Antimony.
Uses. In medicine, only externally, and chiefly as a caustic or escharotic to the wounds caused by rabid and venomous animals, and to repress excessive granulations in ulcers. In pharmacy, as a source of both oxychloride and oxide of antimony. The residuum in the retort when corrosive sublimate is used, is sulphide of mercury, and was formerly called CINNABAR OF ANTIMONY.
2. Antimony, Pentachlo′′ride of. Sb2Cl5. Syn. Perchlo′′ride of antimony; Antimo′′nii pentachlori′dum, L. Prepared by passing a stream of chlorine gas over metallic antimony in fine powder, and gently heated. A mixture of TRICHLORIDE and PENTACHLORIDE OF ANTIMONY is found in the receiver, from which the latter may be separated by careful distillation. It is a colourless volatile liquid, forming a crystalline compound with a small quantity of water, but decomposed by a larger quantity.
Antimony, Cro′cus of. Syn. Saff′ron of antimony, Liv′er of a.; Cro′cus antimo′′nii C. metallo′′rum, He′par antimonii, L.; Crocus d’antimoine, Saffran d’a., Fr. Prep. 1. From black sulphide of antimony, and saltpetre, equal parts, deflagrated together by small portions at a time, and the fused mass (separated from the scoriæ) reduced to fine powder.
2. (Ant. crocus, Ph. L. 1788,) Sulphide of antimony, 1 lb.; nitre, 1 lb.; common salt, 1 oz.; as before.
Prop., &c. Its medicinal properties closely resemble those of diaphoretic antimony. It is a mixture of sulphate of potassium, antimoniate of potassium, teroxide of antimony, oxysulphide of antimony, sulphide of potassium, and undecomposed trisulphide of antimony, in variable and undetermined proportions. When repeatedly washed or boiled in water, and dried, it forms the WASHED SAFFRON OF ANTIMONY (C. A. LO′TUS, L.) of old pharmacy, and has then lost its sulphate of potassium, caustic potash, and sulphide of potassium. Formerly used to make tartar emetic. See Antimony, Liver of.
Antimony, Crude. Native sulphide of antimony melted from the gangue.
Antimony, Diaphoret′ic. Syn. Calx of antimony, Calcined’ a., Antimo′′niate of pot′ash, Stib′iated ka′li†, Diaphoretic min′eral†, &c.; Antimo′′nium diaphoret′icum, A. calcina′tum, Calx antimo′′nii, C. a. anglo′′rum†, POTAS′SÆ ANTIMO′′NIAS, Kali stib′icum†, &c., L. var.; Antimoine diaphorétique, Biantimoniate de potasse, Fr. An old preparation with numerous synonyms, of which the first two of the above are those which are now chiefly in use.