Antimony
51 tin ← antimony → Tellurium As
↑
Sb
↓
Bi General Name, Symbol, Number antimony, Sb, 51 Chemical series metalloids Group, Period, Block 15, 5, p Appearance silvery lustrous grey
Atomic mass 121.760(1) g/mol Electron configuration [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p3 Electrons per shell 2, 8, 18, 18, 5 Physical properties Phase Solid Density (near r.t.) 6.697 g/cm³ Liquid Density at m.p. 6.53 g/cm³ Melting point 903.78 K
(630.63 °C, 1167.13 °F)Boiling point 1860 K
(1587 °C, 2889 °F)Heat of fusion 19.79 kJ/mol Heat of vaporization 193.43 kJ/mol Heat capacity (25 °C) 25.23 J/(mol·K) P/Pa 1 10 100 1 k 10 k 100 k at T/K 807 876 1011 1219 1491 1858 Atomic properties Crystal structure rhombohedral Oxidation states −3, 3, 5 Electronegativity 2.05 (Pauling scale) Ionization energies
(more)1st: 834 kJ/mol 2nd: 1594.9 kJ/mol 3rd: 2440 kJ/mol Atomic radius 145 pm Atomic radius (calc.) 133 pm Covalent radius 138 pm Miscellaneous Magnetic ordering no data Electrical resistivity (20 °C) 417 nΩ·m Thermal conductivity (300 K) 24.4W/(m·K) Thermal expansion (25 °C) 11.0 µm/(m·K) Speed of sound (thin rod) (20 °C) 3420 m/s Young's modulus 55 GPa Shear modulus 20 GPa Bulk modulus 42 GPa Mohs hardness 3.0 Brinell hardness 294 MPa CAS registry number 7440-36-0 Notable isotopes iso NA Half-life DM DE (MeV) DP 121Sb 57.36% Sb is stable with 70 neutrons 123Sb 42.64% Sb is stable with 72 neutrons 125Sb syn 2.7582 y Beta- 0.767 125Te References
Antimony is a Chemical element in the Periodic table that has the symbol Sb (L. Stibium) and Atomic number 51. A Metalloid, antimony has four allotropic forms. The stable form of antimony is a blue-white metal. Yellow and black antimony are unstable non-metals. Antimony is used in flame-proofing, paints, Ceramics, enamels, a wide variety of alloys, Electronics, and Rubber.
Notable characteristics
Antimony in its elemental form is a silvery white, brittle, fusible, crystalline solid that exhibits poor electrical and heat conductivity properties and vaporizes at low temperatures. A metalloid, antimony resembles metal in its appearance and physical properties, but does not chemically react as a metal. It is also attacked by oxidizing acids and halogens. Antimony and some of its alloys expand on cooling.Estimates of the abundance of antimony in the Earth's crust range from 0.2 to 0.5 ppm. Antimony is chalcophile, occurring with Sulfur and the Heavy metals Lead, Copper, and Silver.
Applications
Antimony is increasingly being used in the Semiconductor industry in the production of diodes, Infrared detectors, and Hall-effect devices. As an Alloy, this semi-metal greatly increases Lead's hardness and mechanical strength. The most important use of antimony metal is as a hardener in lead for storage batteries. Other uses;- Batteries,
- antifriction alloys,
- type metal,
- small arms and tracer bullets,
- cable sheathing,
- matches,
- medicines,
- plumbing ("lead-free" solder contains 5% Sb),
- main and big-end bearings in internal combustion engines (as alloy).
History
Antimony was recognized in antiquity (3000 BC or earlier) in various compounds, and it was prized for its fine Casting qualities. It was first reported scientifically by Tholden in 1450, and was known to be a metal by the beginning of the 17th century. The origin of the name "antimony" is not clear; the term may come from the Greek words "anti" and "monos", which approximately means "opposed to solitude" as it was thought never to exist in its pure form, or from the Arabian expression "Antos Ammon", which could be translated as "bloom of the god Ammon".The alchemical symbol for the element is shown.
The natural sulfide of antimony, Stibnite, was known and used in Biblical times as Medicine and as a cosmetic. Stibnite is still used in some developing countries as Medicine. Antimony has been used for the treatment of Schistosomiasis. Antimony attaches itself to Sulfur atoms in certain enzymes which are used both by the parasite and human host. Small doses can kill the parasite without causing damage to the patient.
The relationship between antimony's modern name and its symbol is complex; the Coptic name for the cosmetic powder antimony sulfide was borrowed by the Greeks, which was in turn borrowed by Latin, resulting in stibium. The chemical pioneer Jöns Jakob Berzelius used an abbreviation of this name for antimony in his writings, and his usage became the standard symbol.
Antimony is also the first element in Tom Lehrer's "The Elements".