antimony

[an-tuh-moh-nee]

noun

Chemistry.

1. a brittle, lustrous, white metallic element occurring in nature free or combined, used chiefly in alloys and in compounds in medicine. Sb; 51; 121.75.

antimony

/ ˈæntɪmənɪ /

noun

1. a toxic metallic element that exists in two allotropic forms and occurs principally in stibnite. The stable form is a brittle silvery-white crystalline metal that is added to alloys to increase their strength and hardness and is used in semiconductors. Symbol: Sb; atomic no: 51; atomic wt: 121.757; valency: 0, –3, +3, or +5; relative density: 6.691; melting pt: 630.76°C; boiling pt: 1587°C

antimony

1. A metalloid element having many forms, the most common of which is a hard, very brittle, shiny, blue-white crystal. It is used in a wide variety of alloys, especially with lead in car batteries, and in the manufacture of flameproofing compounds. Atomic number 51; atomic weight 121.76; melting point 630.5°C (1,167°F); boiling point 1,380°C (2,516°F); specific gravity 6.691; valence 3, 5.

2. See Periodic Table

Other Word Forms

• antimonial adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of antimony¹

1375–1425; late Middle English antimonie < Medieval Latin antimōnium, perhaps < dialectal Arabic uthmud

Word History and Origins

Origin of antimony¹

C15: from Medieval Latin antimōnium, of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

Short term, inhaling antimony can cause eye irritation or a skin rash known as antimony spots.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2024, China banned the export of another critical mineral, antimony, that is crucial to various manufacturing processes.

From BBC

Here, the researchers started with four parent compounds containing five elements in total -- ytterbium, calcium, magnesium, zinc and antimony -- running calculations to determine which combinations of the parent compounds could reach band convergence.

From Science Daily

In alloys of aluminum and antimony, antimony wants to form precipitates, like oil wants to form droplets in water.

From Science Daily

Perpetual Resources wants to reopen and expand a long-dormant open pit gold and antimony mine along the East Fork of the South Fork Salmon River east of McCall.

From Seattle Times