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Antimony, Sb

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.

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	r_cov(M^III single bond)/pm	140
Ionization energy/MJmol^-1 I	0.834	r_ionic(6-coordinate)(M^III)/pm	76
II	1.595	(6-coordinate)(M^v)/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	Remarks
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.

Evaporation Materials
A2-5000-M Ingot (Please ask for sizes)
A2-5002-M Pellets 6mm dia. X 6mm long
A2-5003-M Pieces 1-4mm
A2-5004-M Pieces 3-12mm
A2-5005-M Shot 1-3mm
A2-5018-M Pieces 3-6mm

Powders
A2-10000-P -100 mesh
A2-10001-P -100 mesh, 325 mesh
A2-10002-P -200 mesh
A2-10003-P -325 mesh (<10 microns)

Rods
A2-2000-R 0.125" (3.175mm)
A2-2001-R 0.250" (6.35mm)
A2-2002-R 0.500" (12.7mm)
A2-2003-R 0.625" (15.88mm)
A2-2004-R 0.750" (19.05mm)
A2-2005-R 1" (25.4mm)

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