Gold(III) sulfide

Claims

Early investigations claimed to prepare auric sulfide by the reaction of lithium tetrachloroaurate with hydrogen sulfide:

2 Li[AuCl₄] + 3 H₂S → Au₂S₃ + 2 LiCl + 6 HCl

Similar preparations via chloroauric acid, auric chloride, or gold(III) sulfate a claimed proceed in anhydrous solvents, but water evinces a redox decomposition into metallic gold in sulfuric acid:

8 Au³⁺ + 3 S²⁻ + 12 H₂O → 8 Au + 3 H₂SO₄ + 18 H⁺

Conversely, it is claimed that cyclo-octasulfur reduces gold(III) sulfate to a mixture of gold sulfides and sulfur oxides:

Au₂(SO₄)₃ + S₈ → Au₂S₃ + Au₂S + 4 SO₃ + 6 SO₂

Auric sulfide has also been claimed as the product when auric acetate is sonicated with cyclo-octasulfur in decalin.

Auric sulfide is claimed to react with nitric acid as well sodium cyanide. It is claimed to dissolve in concentrated sodium sulfide solution.