Antimony (Sb)

🔹 Basic Information

• Element Name: Antimony
• Discovered By: Known since ancient times (used by Egyptians and others)
• Year of Discovery: Ancient (records date back to 3000 BCE)
• Category: Metalloid
• Group: 15 (Group VA – Nitrogen group)
• State at Room Temperature: Solid (shiny, brittle, silvery-gray) ⚙️

Antimony is a metalloid — meaning it has properties of both metals and non-metals.

🔸 Chemical Properties

• Chemical Symbol: Sb (from Latin stibium)
• Atomic Number: 51
• Atomic Mass: ~121.76 u
• Valency: +3, +5
• Electronic Configuration: [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p³

Antimony is stable in dry air, but reacts with acids and halogens. It often forms compounds with sulfur and oxygen.

📘 Basic Things to Know

Antimony has been used for thousands of years in cosmetics (like ancient eyeliner) and as a medicine. Today, it’s mostly used in fire-resistant materials and metal alloys.

🤔 Interesting Facts

• Antimony compounds were used by ancient Egyptians as makeup (kohl)! 👁️
• The symbol Sb comes from stibium, the Latin word for “mark” or “stain.”
• Antimony is brittle — if you hit it with a hammer, it shatters like glass, unlike most metals. ❌🔧
• It is toxic in large amounts, so it’s handled with care in industries. ⚠️
• Antimony improves the hardness and strength of other metals when used in alloys.

🔧 Common Uses

• Flame Retardants: Added to plastics and fabrics to make them fire-resistant. 🔥🧯
• Alloys: Combined with lead to make batteries, bullets, and type metal harder and stronger. 🔋
• Semiconductors: Used in electronics and diodes due to its electrical properties. 💻
• Glass and Ceramics: Used to give color or remove bubbles.
• Cosmetics (historically): Used in ancient times as eyeliner and pigments. 💄

📚 Conclusion

Antimony is a shiny, brittle metalloid with a long history and some very modern uses, especially in making materials safer and stronger. For students, it’s a great example of how elements can have both artistic and industrial importance! 🔬✨