Introduction to antimony(Sb)-Properties, uses, and types of antimony ~ Chemistry Center

Introduction to antimony (Sb)

Antimony (Sb) is a bluish-white, brittle, semimetallic material. The atomic variety of antimony is 51; the element is in group 15 (or Va) of the periodic desk.

Antimony's compounds also have historical instances, and it was in all probability found by the German alchemist Basil Valentine about 1450. It was recognized by about 1600.

However, it was confused with different components, such as similar to bismuth, tin, and lead. The title antimony (Sb) comes from the Greek phrases anti-Monos, which means "not alone."

Properties of antimony (Sb)

Antimony usually reveals the properties of steel. However, it typically reveals these of a nonmetal. It exists in several distinctly different bodily varieties, the most typical of which is metallic in look.

Antimony ranks about 64th in pure abundance among the many components in crustal rock. The atomic weight of antimony is 121.76; it melts at about 631°C (about 1168°F), boils at about 1590°C (about 2890°F), and has a particular gravity of 6.7.

It sometimes happens as a free ingredient, generally related to silver, arsenic, or bismuth. It crystallizes within the hexagonal system.

However, crystals of antimony are hardly ever discovered. It has a hardness of three. The principal ore of antimony is stibnite, a sulfide of antimony mined in China, France, Italy, Japan, Mexico, and, on a small scale, within the western United States.

Appreciable quantities of antimony are produced as a by-product within the refining of ores of copper and lead.

Liquid antimony(Sb)

Liquid antimony has a distinctive property when cooling, of increasing because it solidifies (water is, without doubt, one of the few different substances with this similar property).

It should thus fill within the crevices of mildew and yield castings of exceptionally sharp outlines. For that reason, it's utilized in making sort steel; it is usually a constituent of many different alloys, similar to Britannia steel, pewter, Babbitt steel, and antimonial lead.

Compounds and uses of antimony(Sb)

Amongst necessary compounds of antimony is tartar emetic, a double tartrate of antimony and potassium used as a medicinal agent.

Pink antimony sulfide, used on security matches, and in vulcanizing rubber.

A glass of antimony, a mix of antimony sulfide and oxide, used as a yellow pigment in glass and porcelain.

Moreover, butter of antimony, antimony trichloride, used for bronzing metal, as a mordant in dyeing, and as a caustic in drugs.