Zinc Silicide, ZnSiS

The solubility of silicon in zinc varies from 0.06 grm. in 100 grm. metal at 600° C. to 1.62 grm. at 850° C., but the two elements do not unite to form a silicide.

When zinc sulphide and carbon are heated to 1300°-1400° C. in a quartz vessel in an atmosphere of nitrogen, volatile ZnSiS is formed. It can be condensed to hard brown crusts after heating zinc sulphide with silicon to 1300° C. This compound of zinc with silicon and sulphur polishes like a metal, and its sulphur is quantitatively evolved as hydrogen sulphide by the action of acids. Aqueous alkalies liberate hydrogen from it.