Trisilane
Encyclopedia
Trisilane is a three-silicon
silane
. It has the chemical formula
Si3H8, and is the silicon analogue of propane
but, unlike C3H8, Si3H8 is a liquid under standard conditions of temperature and pressure. Trisilane was identified in 1916 as being among the products formed by the action of hydrochloric acid on magnesium silicide
. Although this reaction had been previously investigated by Friedrich Woehler and Heinrich Buff between 1857 and 1858, and by Henri Moissan
and Samuel Smiles between 1902 and 1903, trisilane was first explicitly identified by Carl Somiesky (sometimes spelled "Karl Somieski") and Alfred Stock
. They referred to it as silicopropane. They identified this hydride along with what they referred to as silicobutane (Si4H10), silicopentane (Si5H12) and silicohexane (Si6H14), thereby firmly establishing that silicon forms a homologous series
, SinH2n+2, similar to the alkanes
, CnH2n+2, albeit to a much smaller extent because of silicon's reduced ability for catenation
.
Silicon
Silicon is a chemical element with the symbol Si and atomic number 14. A tetravalent metalloid, it is less reactive than its chemical analog carbon, the nonmetal directly above it in the periodic table, but more reactive than germanium, the metalloid directly below it in the table...
silane
Silanes
Silanes are chemical compounds of silicon and hydrogen, which are analogues of alkane hydrocarbons. Silanes consist of a chain of silicon atoms covalently bonded to each other and to hydrogen atoms. The general formula of a silane is SinH2n+2...
. It has the chemical formula
Chemical formula
A chemical formula or molecular formula is a way of expressing information about the atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound....
Si3H8, and is the silicon analogue of propane
Propane
Propane is a three-carbon alkane with the molecular formula , normally a gas, but compressible to a transportable liquid. A by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining, it is commonly used as a fuel for engines, oxy-gas torches, barbecues, portable stoves, and residential central...
but, unlike C3H8, Si3H8 is a liquid under standard conditions of temperature and pressure. Trisilane was identified in 1916 as being among the products formed by the action of hydrochloric acid on magnesium silicide
Magnesium silicide
Magnesium silicide, Mg2Si, is an inorganic compound consisting of magnesium and silicon. As a powder magnesium silicide is dark blue or slightly purple in color. Silicon dioxide, SiO2, found in sand and glass, when heated with magnesium forms magnesium oxide, and, if an excess of magnesium is...
. Although this reaction had been previously investigated by Friedrich Woehler and Heinrich Buff between 1857 and 1858, and by Henri Moissan
Henri Moissan
Ferdinand Frederick Henri Moissan was a French chemist who won the 1906 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work in isolating fluorine from its compounds.-Biography:...
and Samuel Smiles between 1902 and 1903, trisilane was first explicitly identified by Carl Somiesky (sometimes spelled "Karl Somieski") and Alfred Stock
Alfred Stock
Alfred Stock was a German inorganic chemist. He did pioneering research on the hydrides of boron and silicon, coordination chemistry, mercury, and mercury poisoning...
. They referred to it as silicopropane. They identified this hydride along with what they referred to as silicobutane (Si4H10), silicopentane (Si5H12) and silicohexane (Si6H14), thereby firmly establishing that silicon forms a homologous series
Homologous series
In chemistry, a homologous series is a series of compounds with a similar general formula, possessing similar chemical properties due to the presence of the same functional group, and showing a gradation in physical properties as a result of increase in molecular size and mass...
, SinH2n+2, similar to the alkanes
Alkane
Alkanes are chemical compounds that consist only of hydrogen and carbon atoms and are bonded exclusively by single bonds without any cycles...
, CnH2n+2, albeit to a much smaller extent because of silicon's reduced ability for catenation
Catenation
Catenation is the ability of a chemical element to form a long chain-like structure via a series of covalent bonds. Catenation occurs most readily in carbon, which forms covalent bonds with other carbon atoms. Catenation is the reason for the presence of a large number of organic compounds in nature...
.