Antimony - SpeedyLook encyclopedia

History

Antimony is a native element; it is known since, in particular Babylonian .

This name comes from the anti Greek + monos, not only (this element was always found with other metals). One finds then in Moyen Age the Latin name antimonium , this element being well-known alchemists of the time. A legend explains the origin of this name by a succession of deaths to the Middle Ages among the monks carrying out of the research tasks on this body or to which the alchemist Basile Valentine managed it.

To note the use of the Greek word stimmi who indicated, under Antiquity, a known bournonite sulfide maintaining under the name of stibnite. The women then used this ore as make-up with lashes. It is Pline the Old one which would have thus baptized this ore of the Latin name of stibium (at the origin of the symbol Sb).

Ores

Antimony is most easily in the form of sulfide combined or not with other metals. Although more rarely, one also finds it in the form of Oxyde.

Sulfides

the Stibine (Sb₂S₃) is the most frequent form. Its name comes from the Greek stibi who means black antimony. It is of color gray steel, of a density D = 4,6.
the Berthiérite (FeSb₂S₄). Its name was given to him in homage to Pierre Berthier which was the discoverer in 1827 in Chazelles in the Puy-de-Dôme in France. Its density is also D = 4,6.

The berthiérite merges rather easily with stibnite. To distinguish them, it is necessary to make an attack with the Hydroxyde of potassium (KOH). Stibnite reacts more easily than the berthiérite by producing a yellow coating.

There exists a many family of antimony sulpho-salts containing various metal elements like the Plomb, the money, the Zinc, the Cuivre, etc It is the lead which is most frequently represented. One can quote for example:

with cations lead

*jamesonite (Pb₄Sb₆S₁₇)

*semseite (Pb₉Sb₈S₁₄)

*boulangerite (Pb₅Sb₄S₂₁)

*plagionite (Pb₅Sb₈S₁₁) Oxide

with cations coppers

*bournonite (CuPbSbS₃)

*tétraédrite ((Cu, Fe, Ag, Zn) ₁₂Sb₄S₁₃.

Oxides

The oxides are generally coloured.

Of white or gray color:

*sénarmontite (cubic Sb₂O₃ )

*Valentinite (Sb₂O₃) orthorhombic).

of yellow color:

*stibiconite (Sb₃O₆ (OH))

of red color

*kermésite (Sb₂S₂O). Its name comes from Persan “the qurmizq” which means red dark.

Use (and history)

In Antiquity, antimony was used as drug and component of the first Cosmétique S (the Mascara).

The June 30th 1658, Louis XIV is victim of a serious food poisoning at the time of the catch of Bergues in North. Monday July 8th, one gives him the last sacraments and one starts to prepare the succession but Guénaut, the doctor of Anne of Austria, gives him an emetic containing antimony and of Vin which cures “miraculeusement” the king.

Its compounds were used to cure cutaneous and parasitic diseases.

Component of Alloy S of lead (of which it increases hardness) being used for manufacture:

of characters of Printing works;
of accumulating plates of lead-acid (5%);
of alloys for welding lead-antimony-tin (approximately 80%,15% and 5%);
Of “leads” of the cartridge S of hunting.

Component of alloys Antifriction containing Lead or of tin (see Materials usable for friction).
in the form of Oxide Sb₂O₃, it decreases the propagation of the flames in the Plastics.

Of the Semiconductor S: InSb, GaSb used

for detection in the Infra-red
for the probes with Hall effect (detection of Magnetic field)

the antimony oxides make it possible to produce a opaque Verre white.

Production

Figures of 2003, metal contained in the ores and concentrates, source: The state of the world 2005

Precautions

The antimony and the majority of its compounds are toxic.

There exist two toxicological cards on the site of INRS:

one on antimony oxide,
the other on the antimony hydride.

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