Antimony

What is Antimony?

Antimony is a chemical element with the symbol Sb and atomic number 51. It is a silvery-white, brittle metalloid that is mainly used in flame retardants, alloys, and glass. Antimony is found in nature as the sulfide mineral stibnite and in many other minerals.

Where is Antimony generally used?

Antimony has a wide range of applications. It is often used in flame retardants for textiles, plastics, and paints, as an alloy to improve the properties of lead, tin, and other metals, and in glass manufacturing. It is also used to make alloys for batteries and ammunition and as a catalyst in the production of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic.

Where is Antimony found?

Antimony is found in many minerals, such as stibnite (Sb2S3), porphyry, and enargite. It can also be found in trace amounts in the Earth's crust.

What are the health benefits of Antimony?

Antimony is not known to have any health benefits. In fact, high levels of antimony can be toxic, and it can irritate the skin, eyes, and lungs if inhaled.

Interesting Facts about Antimony:

• Antimony has been used since ancient times, though it was not discovered until the mid-1700s.
• The symbol Sb is derived from the Latin word for “stibium”, which was the Roman name for antimony.
• A popular green pigment, called Scheele’s green, once contained antimony.
• Antimony is one of the few elements that expand when cooled.

List of Other Similar Ingredients:

• Arsenic 
• Bismuth 
• Gallium
• Indium 
• Tin

Antimony is found naturally in some minerals, and can also be produced synthetically. It can be used in a wide variety of applications, including in flame retardants, lead-acid batteries, and ammunition, among others. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set standards for antimony releases into the environment. Additionally, contact with antimony can irritate the skin, eyes, and lungs, and high doses can be toxic.