Trisilane

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Trisilane

Stereo structural formula of trisilane with implicit hydrogens Ball and stick model of trisilane
Names
IUPAC name Trisilane
Identifiers
CAS Number	7783-26-8 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	122661 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.132.113
UN number	3194
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID80884426
InChI InChI=1S/H8Si3/c1-3-2/h3H2,1-2H3 Y Key: VEDJZFSRVVQBIL-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
SMILES [SiH3][SiH2][SiH3]
Properties
Chemical formula	H8Si3
Molar mass	92.319 g·mol−1
Appearance	Colourless liquid
Odor	Unpleasant
Density	0.743 g cm-3
Melting point	−117 °C (−179 °F; 156 K)
Boiling point	53 °C (127 °F; 326 K)
Vapor pressure	12.7 kPa
Hazards
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards	Pyrophoric
Flash point	<-40 °C
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

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, Si_nH_2n+2, similar to the alkanes, C_nH_2n+2, albeit to a much smaller extent because of silicon's reduced ability for catenation.