Sb, 51
Antimony
Discovery of element
The year Antimony was discovered (or the people who discovered it) is unknown, but was known by ancients and used as eye makeup. It comes in a two different colors, silvery white, and black. For years antimony was confused with lead, because they are very similar. Antimony was surely produced in it's pure form by the 1500's. The origin of it's name comes from greek anti and monos, meaning not alone. The symbol for antimony is Sb is named after the mineral stibnite.
Characteristics and Facts
-Identified as a metalloid -Brittle, hard
-Silvery blue color -Very shiny
-Its atomic weight is 121.67 -It is toxic, carcinogenic
-Solid -Easily powdered
-Melts at 630°C -Not very conductive of elec. or heat
-Boils at 1587°C -One of few elements that expand when frozen
-Silvery blue color -Very shiny
-Its atomic weight is 121.67 -It is toxic, carcinogenic
-Solid -Easily powdered
-Melts at 630°C -Not very conductive of elec. or heat
-Boils at 1587°C -One of few elements that expand when frozen
Where antimony is found
As the name suggests antimony is found with other elements. Antimony makes up part of 100+ minerals (especially stibnite and valentinite) and is found with other metals such as copper, lead, silver, and sulfur. It is very rare to find native antimony naturally. To get lots of pure antimony humans need to make it. China makes 90% of the world's antimony and has 84% of it. Antimony is a by-product of gold, silver, and copper production, but you can also get it from minerals like stibnite. You can even buy antimony online.
Uses of antimony
Ancients used it in a mineral form for makeup
These are some common things that use antimony:
-Batteries
-Aerosol cans
-Spray paints
-Refrigeration devices
-Alloys of low friction metals
-Alloy of lead
-Type metal
-Cables
-Flame proofing
-Hardening and smoothing metal
-Infra red detectors
-Cosmetics and medicines (in ancient times)
What characteristics make antimony so important and useful?
Antimony expands when chilled/cooled, so it can take fine details of molds.
It's a semiconductor of heat and electricity, which is why it's used for infrared detectors etc.
When alloyed with other metals, it makes them smoother, shinier and harder
It is a fire retardant and safer than most other fire proofing substances
Without antimony, there wouldn't be many improvements in metal tool and devices. Because it was used for so long it shaped our history from the early beginnings.
-Batteries
-Aerosol cans
-Spray paints
-Refrigeration devices
-Alloys of low friction metals
-Alloy of lead
-Type metal
-Cables
-Flame proofing
-Hardening and smoothing metal
-Infra red detectors
-Cosmetics and medicines (in ancient times)
What characteristics make antimony so important and useful?
Antimony expands when chilled/cooled, so it can take fine details of molds.
It's a semiconductor of heat and electricity, which is why it's used for infrared detectors etc.
When alloyed with other metals, it makes them smoother, shinier and harder
It is a fire retardant and safer than most other fire proofing substances
Without antimony, there wouldn't be many improvements in metal tool and devices. Because it was used for so long it shaped our history from the early beginnings.
Drug facts: warning
Yes, antimony does have some side effects. Like arsenic, at a certain amount it is toxic to humans.(It is more toxic in it's mineral form) When exposed to 9 miligrams per cubic meter of air antimony can cause irritation in lungs skin and eyes. Breathing 2 miligrams per cubic meter can cause lung and heart problems as well as stomach pains. Drinking at least 19 ppm of antimony in a siting caused vomiting. In conclusion, don't ingest or inhale antimony.
Interesting facts
1. Antimony is very shiny, they say after heating it to high temperatures it shines more then silver but is more brittle than glass.
2. Antimony has been used for a long time(seen in hyroglyphics in ancient egyptian writing but was thought to be lead) but was unknown.
3. It is related to arsenic which was also used as makeup long ago and is also a common alloy
2. Antimony has been used for a long time(seen in hyroglyphics in ancient egyptian writing but was thought to be lead) but was unknown.
3. It is related to arsenic which was also used as makeup long ago and is also a common alloy
Vocabulary
Metalloid: To have some metallic properties, a semi-metal
Carcinogenic: To be able to cause cancer
Native: To be in a pure, unalloyed state
Metalloid: To have some metallic properties, a semi-metal
Carcinogenic: To be able to cause cancer
Native: To be in a pure, unalloyed state
Bibliography
Chemicool.com
education.jlab.org
chemistry.about.com
webelements.com
The World Book Encyclopedia
(full bibliography on google docs)
Pictures:
http://phoebematerials.com/en/products.asp
http://www.chemicalelements.com/elements/sb.html
http://www.elle.com/beauty/makeup-skin-care/the-history-of-beauty-392834
education.jlab.org
chemistry.about.com
webelements.com
The World Book Encyclopedia
(full bibliography on google docs)
Pictures:
http://phoebematerials.com/en/products.asp
http://www.chemicalelements.com/elements/sb.html
http://www.elle.com/beauty/makeup-skin-care/the-history-of-beauty-392834