A
selenide is a chemical compound containing a
selenium anion with
oxidation number of -2 (Se
2-), much as
sulfur does in a
sulfide. The chemistry of the selenides and sulfides is similar. Similar to
sulfide, in
aqueous solution, the selenide ion, Se
2-, is prevalent only in very basic conditions. In neutral conditions, hydrogen selenide
ion, HSe
-, is most common. In acid conditions,
hydrogen selenide, H
2Se, is formed.