Formula SrS Density 3.7 g/cm³ | Molar mass 119.68 g/mol Appearance Grey powder | |
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Strontium sulfide is the inorganic compound with the formula SrS. It is a white solid. The compound is an intermediate in the conversion of strontium sulfate, the main strontium ore called celestite, to other more useful compounds.
Production and reactions
Strontium sulfide is produced by the reduction of the sulfate above 1000 °C:
SrSO4 + 2 C → SrS + 2 CO2About 300,000 tons are processed in this way annually. Both luminous and nonluminous sulfide phases are known, impurities, defects, and dopants being important.
As expected for a sulfide salt of alkaline earth, the sulfide hydrolyzes readily:
SrS + 2 H2O → Sr(OH)2 + H2SFor this reason, samples of SrS have an odor of rotten eggs.
Similar reactions are used in the production of commercially useful compounds, including the most useful strontium compound, strontium carbonate.
SrS + H2O + CO2 → SrCO3 + H2SStrontium nitrate can also be prepared in this way.