A Visual Encyclopedia of the Periodic Table

161

The Nitrogen Group

These needle-

like cr ystals

contain antimony,

lead, and iron.

These matches with antimony in the tip

burn brighter than the ones without it.

These metallic

letters are used

by some printing

presses, and

are made of an

antimony-tin alloy.

Antimony

Sb

51

Forms Uses

This silver y

semi-metal is

hard but brittle.

Safety matches

Printing press metal type

Antimony gets its name from the Greek

word anti-monos, meaning “not alone”.

This may refer to the fact that the element is

never found pure in nature, but is always found

combined with heavier metals, such as lead.

The element’s symbol, Sb, comes from stibium,

the Latin word for kohl, a form of eye make-up.

The mineral ore stibnite is the largest source of

pure antimony. Its pure form is mostly used to

make hard alloys, such as that in the metal type

used by some printers. Ancient Egyptian kohl

was made from powdered stibnite.

This mineral

tarnishes on

contact with air.

S

ti

bn

it

e

Kohl is a dark

eyeshadow.

Kohl makes

it easier to

see in strong

sunlight.

51 51 71

State: Solid

Discovery: c. 1600 bce

James

on

ite

E

g

py

ti

a

n

k

o

hl

Pure^ an

tim

on

y

crystals

ref

ine

d

in^ a^ lab

orat

ory

160-161_Arsenic_Antimony.indd 161 12/12/16 5:40 pm