Get the Facts About the Element Antimony

Get the Facts About the Element Antimony Antimony (atomic number 51)Â  compounds have been known since ancient time. The metal has been known since at least the 17th century. Electron Configuration: [Kr] 5s2 4d10 5p3 Word Origin Greek anti- plus monos, meaning a metal not found alone. The symbol comes from the mineral stibnite. Properties The melting point of antimony is 630.74Â °C, the boiling point is 1950Â °C, specific gravity is 6.691 (at 20Â °C), with a valence of 0, -3, 3, or 5. Two allotropic forms of antimony exist; the usual stable metallic form and the amorphous gray form. Metallic antimony is extremely brittle. It is a bluish-white metal with a flaky crystalline texture and metallic luster. It is not oxidized by air at room temperature. However, it will burn brilliantly when heated, and release white Sb2O3 fumes. It is a poor heat or electrical conductor. Antimony metal has a hardness of 3 to 3.5. Uses Antimony is widely used in alloying to increase hardness and mechanical strength. Antimony is used in the semiconductor industry for infrared detectors, Hall-effect devices, and diodes. The metal and its compounds also used in batteries, bullets, cable sheathing, flame-proofing compounds, glass, ceramics, paints, and pottery. Tartar emetic has been used in medicine. Antimony and many of its compounds are toxic. Sources Antimony is found in over 100 minerals. Sometimes it occurs in native form, but it is more common as the sulfide stibnite (Sb2S3) and as the antimonides of heavy metals and as oxides. Element Classification and Properties SemimetallicDensity (g/cc): 6.691Melting Point (K): 903.9Boiling Point (K): 1908Appearance: hard, silvery-white, brittle semi-metalAtomic Radius (pm): 159Atomic Volume (cc/mol): 18.4Covalent Radius (pm): 140Ionic Radius: 62 (6e) 245 (-3)Specific Heat (20Â °C J/g mol): 0.205Fusion Heat (kJ/mol): 20.08Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol): 195.2Debye Temperature (K): 200.00Pauling Negativity Number: 2.05First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol): 833.3Oxidation States: 5, 3, -2Lattice Structure: RhombohedralLattice Constant (Ã…): 4.510 Symbol Sb Atomic Weight 121.760 References Los Alamos National Laboratory (2001)Crescent Chemical Company (2001)Langes Handbook of Chemistry (1952)CRC Handbook of Chemistry Physics (18th Ed.)