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What
the name means:
The name antimony derives from the Greek
word, anti monos, which means “not
alone”. The Greeks did not think that
antimony could be found as the element but
only in its compounds. The chemical symbol,
first used by Jöns Jakob Berzelius in his
notes, is Sb. This derives from the Greek
word stibni, meaning “mark”. The
Latin word for mark is stibium.
Who
identified
antimony?
Antimony has been known and used since
ancient times. Ladies in the East used
antimony sulphide, a black compound, as
mascara and to darken their eyebrows. The
16th century alchemist, Georgius
Agricula, wrote that he had extracted
antimony metal. It was Antoine Lavoisier
who recognised antimony as an element.
About
antimony:
Antimony is quite rare in the Earth’s
crust. It can be found as the free element,
contrary to what the Greeks believed.
However, antimony compounds are found in
small quantities in a variety of minerals.
Antimony is used to form an alloy with lead
to increase its hardness. It is also used
in certain paints, enamels and glassware. |
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