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Antimony, Sb

Description

Antimony is a chemical element with the symbol Sb (Latin: stibium, meaning "mark") and atomic number 51. A metalloid, antimony has four allotropic forms. The stable form of antimony is a blue-white metalloid. Yellow and black antimony are unstable non-metals. Antimony is used in flame-proofing, paints, ceramics, enamels, a wide variety of alloys, electronics, and rubber.

Antimony in its elemental form is a silvery white, brittle, fusible, crystalline solid that exhibits poor electrical and heat conductivity properties and vaporizes at low temperatures. A metalloid, antimony resembles a metal in its appearance and in many of its physical properties, but does not chemically react as a metal. It is also attacked by oxidizing acids and halogens. Antimony and some of its alloys are unusual in that they expand on cooling. Antimony is geochemically categorized as a chalcophile, occurring with sulfur and the heavy metals lead, copper, and silver.

Estimates of the abundance of antimony in the Earth's crust range from 0.2 to 0.5 ppm.

Available Forms:



Technical Data
Symbol Sb Density (25°C)/gcm-3 6.691
Atomic number 51 Melting point / °C 630.74
Atomic weight 121.75 Boiling point / °C 1587
Electronic configuration [Kr] 4d105s25p3 rcov(MIII single bond)/pm 140
Ionization energy/MJmol-1 I 0.834 rionic(6-coordinate)(MIII)/pm 76
II 1.595 (6-coordinate)(Mv)/pm 60
III 2.443 Hardness (Mohs) 3.35
Sum (I+II+III)/MJmof-1 4.872 Electrical resistivity (20°C)/μohm cm 41.7
Sum (IV+V)/MJmof -1 9.636 Contraction on freezing/% 0.8
Electronegativity χ 1.9    

Evaporation Techniques
Temperature (oC) @Vap. Pressure Techniques Remarks
10-8 Torr 10-6 Torr 10-4 Torr Electron Beam Crucible Coil Boat
279 Sublimes 345 Sublimes 425 Sublimes Poor BN, Graphite & Al2O3 Molybdenum & Tantalum Molybdenum, Tantalum coated with Al2O3 Toxic, evaporates well. Film structure is rate dependent.
Go to Evaporation Sources Page

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