{"id":17871,"date":"2026-04-19T16:21:18","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T10:51:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aluminiummagazine.com\/mag\/?p=17871"},"modified":"2026-04-19T16:21:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T10:51:19","slug":"aluminium-sulfide-hydrogen-sulfide-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aluminiummagazine.com\/mag\/aluminium\/compounds\/aluminium-sulfide-hydrogen-sulfide-guide.html","title":{"rendered":"Aluminium Sulfide (Al\u2082S\u2083): The Complete Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aluminium sulfide is a highly moisture\u2011sensitive inorganic compound. It appears as a dull grey to yellowish solid and is infamous for its foul odor resulting from reaction with ambient moisture. It serves as a specialized laboratory reagent to generate hydrogen sulfide gas on demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. <strong>Basic Identification<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Chemical Formula:<\/strong> Al\u2082S\u2083<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Alternative Names:<\/strong> Aluminium sulfide, dialuminum trisulfide<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Molecular Weight:<\/strong> 150.16\u202fg\/mol<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>CAS Number:<\/strong> 1302-81-4<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Appearance:<\/strong> Dull grey to yellowish\u2011brown crystalline solid or powder<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:75px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. <strong>Physical Properties<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Property<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Aluminum Sulfide<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Melting Point<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">1100\u202f\u00b0C (2010\u202f\u00b0F)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Boiling Point<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Sublimes\/decomposes ~1500\u202f\u00b0C<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Density<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">2.02\u202fg\/cm\u00b3<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Crystal Structure<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Hexagonal (\u03b1), Trigonal (\u03b2)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Solubility<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Insoluble in organic solvents; reacts violently with water<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pure Al\u2082S\u2083 forms hard greyish clumps. Older samples often have a white crust of aluminium hydroxide and emit a noxious stench due to moisture exposure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:75px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. <strong>Chemical Behavior &amp; Synthesis<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3.1 Reaction with Water \u2013 H\u2082S Generation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Al\u2082S\u2083 + 6 H\u2082O \u2192 2 Al(OH)\u2083 + 3 H\u2082S \u2191<\/strong><\/p><div class=\"pai-ad\" style=\"min-height:250px;visibility:hidden;\"><span style=\"display: block; text-align: center; font-size: 10px; margin: 0 0 10px 0; color: #999999;\">Ads<\/span>\r\n<!-- Display-300x250-1 -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:inline-block;width:300px;height:250px\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3838168351244230\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"9933646018\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even atmospheric humidity triggers localized hydrolysis, releasing hydrogen sulfide (H\u2082S) gas. Dropped into water, it bubbles violently, producing a white sludge and toxic H\u2082S clouds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3.2 Synthesis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2 Al + 3 S \u2192 Al\u2082S\u2083<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fine aluminum powder and sulfur are mixed and ignited. The reaction is violently exothermic, fusing the elements into pure aluminum sulfide.<\/p><div class=\"pai-ad\" style=\"min-height:250px;visibility:hidden;\"><span style=\"display: block; text-align: center; font-size: 10px; margin: 0 0 10px 0; color: #999999;\">Ads<\/span>\r\n<!-- Display-300x250-1 -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:inline-block;width:300px;height:250px\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3838168351244230\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"9933646018\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:75px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. <strong>Applications<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4.1 Hydrogen Sulfide (H\u2082S) Generation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In analytical chemistry, Al\u2082S\u2083 provides a controlled source of H\u2082S for testing heavy metal ions (metal sulfide precipitation) without storing pressurized toxic gas tanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4.2 Inorganic Synthesis Precursor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Used as a reactive sulfur precursor to generate thio\u2011compounds without introducing water or handling gaseous H\u2082S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4.3 Battery Research<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aluminum\u2011sulfur battery lattices based on Al\u2082S\u2083 are studied for lightweight, high\u2011capacity energy storage as an alternative to lithium\u2011ion.<\/p><div class=\"pai-ad\" style=\"min-height:250px;visibility:hidden;\"><span style=\"display: block; text-align: center; font-size: 10px; margin: 0 0 10px 0; color: #999999;\">Ads<\/span>\r\n<!-- Display-300x250-1 -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:inline-block;width:300px;height:250px\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3838168351244230\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"9933646018\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:75px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. <strong>Safety &amp; Hazard Management<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>GHS Symbol<\/th><th>Meaning<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>\u2620\ufe0f GHS06<\/td><td>Toxic gas releaser<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Critical Warning:<\/strong> The reaction product \u2013 hydrogen sulfide (H\u2082S) \u2013 is extremely toxic, attacks the nervous system, and can be fatal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5.1 Health Effects<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Route of Exposure<\/th><th>Effect<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Inhalation (H\u2082S gas)<\/strong><\/td><td>H\u2082S paralyzes olfactory nerves (rotten\u2011egg smell disappears). Continued exposure causes pulmonary edema, coma, death.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Skin Contact<\/strong><\/td><td>Solid may irritate; moisture on skin causes localized gas burns.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Eye Contact<\/strong><\/td><td>Severe irritation due to hydrolysis on eye moisture.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Ingestion<\/strong><\/td><td>Stomach acid accelerates H\u2082S release \u2192 internal poisoning, shock, potentially fatal.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5.2 PPE<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Respiratory:<\/strong> Fume hood mandatory. For large spills, SCBA (H\u2082S is not filtered by particulate masks).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hands:<\/strong> Thick nitrile or butyl rubber gloves<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Eyes:<\/strong> Tight chemical splash goggles<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5.3 First Aid<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Inhalation:<\/strong> Evacuate to fresh air immediately. Administer oxygen. <strong>Seek emergency medical help.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Skin:<\/strong> Brush off dry chemical; flush with water 15+ minutes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Eyes:<\/strong> Flush 15\u201120 minutes; see ophthalmologist.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5.4 Firefighting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>H\u2082S is highly flammable and forms explosive mixtures with air.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Use:<\/strong> Dry chemical powder or dry sand.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Do NOT use:<\/strong> Water or foam \u2013 will increase toxic\/flammable gas release.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Storage &amp; Handling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Container:<\/strong> Tightly sealed glass or heavy plastic<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Atmosphere:<\/strong> Under dry inert gas (nitrogen\/argon)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Location:<\/strong> Cool, ventilated hazardous storage, away from humidity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Incompatibles:<\/strong> Water, moisture, strong acids, strong oxidizers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6.1 Disposal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do not discard in trash or drain. In a fume hood, suspend in non\u2011polar solvent, then slowly drip into dilute bleach (sodium hypochlorite) to oxidize sulfide to non\u2011toxic sulfate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:75px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. <strong>Environmental Impact<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Exposed Al\u2082S\u2083 breaks down in rainwater. Aluminum becomes inert mud, but sudden H\u2082S release can devastate wildlife and acidify streams. Spills must be kept away from groundwater\/sewers.<\/p><div class=\"pai-ad\" style=\"min-height:250px;visibility:hidden;\"><span style=\"display: block; text-align: center; font-size: 10px; margin: 0 0 10px 0; color: #999999;\">Ads<\/span>\r\n<!-- Display-300x250-1 -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:inline-block;width:300px;height:250px\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3838168351244230\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"9933646018\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:75px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. <strong>Comparison with Other Reactive Aluminum Compounds<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Compound<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Formula<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Byproduct in Water<\/th><th>Primary Hazard<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Aluminium Sulfide<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Al\u2082S\u2083<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Hydrogen sulfide (H\u2082S)<\/td><td>Toxic, flammable \u201crotten egg\u201d gas<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Aluminium Phosphide<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">AlP<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Phosphine (PH\u2083)<\/td><td>Highly lethal fumigant<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Aluminium Carbide<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Al\u2084C\u2083<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Methane (CH\u2084)<\/td><td>Flammable gas explosion risk<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Aluminium Chloride<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">AlCl\u2083<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Hydrogen chloride (HCl)<\/td><td>Corrosive acid clouds<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:75px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9. <strong>Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Q: I found a bottle that smells strongly of rotten eggs. Is it leaking?<\/strong><br>A: Yes. Even brief exposure to humid air generates H\u2082S, which escapes through threads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Q: Why do chemistry teachers demonstrate this reaction?<\/strong><br>A: Mixing aluminum and sulfur powders creates a dramatic flash of heat and light, illustrating exothermic reactions and activation energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Q: Are aluminum\u2011sulfur batteries available to buy?<\/strong><br>A: No. Research is ongoing; engineering challenges remain for long\u2011cycle stability.<\/p><div class=\"pai-ad\" style=\"min-height:250px;visibility:hidden;\"><span style=\"display: block; text-align: center; font-size: 10px; margin: 0 0 10px 0; color: #999999;\">Ads<\/span>\r\n<!-- Display-300x250-1 -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:inline-block;width:300px;height:250px\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3838168351244230\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"9933646018\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:75px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10. <strong>Summary Data Sheet<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Property<\/th><th>Value<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Chemical Name<\/strong><\/td><td>Aluminum Sulfide<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Formula<\/strong><\/td><td>Al\u2082S\u2083<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Appearance<\/strong><\/td><td>Grey to yellowish solid clumps<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Melting Point<\/strong><\/td><td>1100\u202f\u00b0C<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Defining Trait<\/strong><\/td><td>Emits H\u2082S (rotten egg) in humid air<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Primary Utility<\/strong><\/td><td>Laboratory H\u2082S generator<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Storage<\/strong><\/td><td>Watertight, inert gas blanket<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/p><script>document.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){\n        if(window.innerWidth <= 768){\n            if (\"immediate\" === \"delay\") {\n                setTimeout(function(){document.querySelectorAll(\".pai-ad\").forEach(el=>el.style.visibility=\"visible\")},0);\n            } else if (\"immediate\" === \"scroll\") {\n                window.addEventListener(\"scroll\",function(){\n                    let s=window.scrollY\/(document.body.scrollHeight-window.innerHeight);\n                    if(s>0.1){\n                        document.querySelectorAll(\".pai-ad\").forEach(el=>el.style.visibility=\"visible\");\n                    }\n                });\n            } else {\n                document.querySelectorAll(\".pai-ad\").forEach(el=>el.style.visibility=\"visible\");\n            }\n        } else {\n            document.querySelectorAll(\".pai-ad\").forEach(el=>el.remove());\n        }\n    });<\/script>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Aluminium sulfide is a highly moisture\u2011sensitive inorganic compound. It appears as a dull grey to yellowish solid and is infamous for its foul odor resulting from reaction with ambient moisture. It serves as a specialized laboratory reagent to generate hydrogen sulfide gas on demand. 1. Basic Identification 2. Physical Properties Property Aluminum Sulfide Melting Point &#8230; <a title=\"Aluminium Sulfide (Al\u2082S\u2083): The Complete Guide\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/aluminiummagazine.com\/mag\/aluminium\/compounds\/aluminium-sulfide-hydrogen-sulfide-guide.html\" aria-label=\"Read more about Aluminium Sulfide (Al\u2082S\u2083): The Complete Guide\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":18013,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4155],"tags":[4141,4142],"class_list":["post-17871","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-compounds","tag-aluminium-compounds","tag-aluminum-formula"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aluminiummagazine.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17871","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aluminiummagazine.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aluminiummagazine.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aluminiummagazine.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aluminiummagazine.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17871"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/aluminiummagazine.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17871\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aluminiummagazine.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18013"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aluminiummagazine.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17871"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aluminiummagazine.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17871"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aluminiummagazine.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17871"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}