Antimony
Antimony (Sb)
Antimony (pronounced /ænˈtɪməni/ an-TIM-ə-nee) is a chemical element with the symbol Sb (from Latin: stibium) and atomic number 51.
Etymology
The word Antimony is derived from the ancient Greek word 'anti-monos', meaning 'not alone'. The Latin term 'stibium' refers to the cosmetic stibnite, which was historically used in cosmetics by the ancient Egyptians.
Description
Antimony is a lustrous gray metalloid, found in nature primarily as the sulfide mineral stibnite (Sb2S3). It is not an abundant element, but is found in over 100 mineral species. It is resistant to attack by acids.
Uses
Antimony compounds have been known since ancient times and were used for cosmetics; metallic antimony was also known, but it was erroneously identified as lead. It is used in alloys with other metals to increase hardness and strength. It is also used in flame retardants, ceramics, glass, batteries, fireworks, and explosives.
Related Terms
- Stibnite: The most important source for antimony. It is a sulfide mineral.
- Metalloid: A type of chemical element which has properties in between, or that are a mixture of, metals and nonmetals.
- Alloy: A substance made by melting two or more elements together, at least one of them a metal.
- Flame retardant: A substance that is applied to fabric, wood, or other materials to prevent or delay the spread of fire.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Antimony
- Wikipedia's article - Antimony
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski