Physical properties
Antimony (L. stibium, mark). Atomic symbol: Sb. Atomic Weight: 121.75. Atomic number: 51. Electron configuration: [Kr]4d105s2p3. Melting point: 904K. Boiling point: 1860 K. Density: 6.68 g/cm3 at 300 K. Oxidation states: ±3, +5. Ionic radii: 3+ = 0.76 Å, 5+ = 0.62 Å, 3− = 2.45 Å. Electronegativity (Pauling's): 2.05. Crystal modifications: hexagonal (rhombohedral) metallic, two allotropes (polymorphs): reactive yellow and black amorphous. Isotopic abundances: 121Sb 57.3% and 123Sb 42.7%. Other radioactive isotopes of antimony have been noted after thermonuclear explosions but their half lives are short; the longest (125Sb) has a half life of 2.71 years. Antimony is a brittle, blue-white metalloid and a poor conductor of heat and electricity.
Minerals and compounds
The most common natural form of the element is the sulfide mineral, stibnite Sb2S3. Antimony is occasionally found as a native metal or as an intermetallic compound with arsenic. Over 113 different...
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Boyle, R.W. and Jonasson, I.R. (1984). The geochemistry of antimony and its use as an indicator element in geochemical prospecting. J. Geochem. Expl., 20, 223–302.
Fergusson, J.E. (1990). The Heavy Elements: Chemistry, Environmental Impact and Health Effects. New York: Pergamon Press, 614 pp.
Onishi, H. (1969). Antimony, in Handbook of Geochemistry (ed. K.H. Wedepohl). New York: Springer-Verlag, pp. 51–A–1–51–O–1.
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© 1998 Kluwer Academic Publishers
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Lueth, V.W. (1998). Antimony: Element and geochemistry. In: Geochemistry. Encyclopedia of Earth Science. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4496-8_11
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4496-8_11
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