Appearance
Metallic antimony is an extremely brittle metal of a flaky, crystalline texture. It is bluish white and has a metallic lustre. It is not acted on by air at room temperature, but burns brilliantly when heated with the formation of white fumes. It is a poor conductor of heat and electricity. Antimony and its compounds are toxic. It is found mostly with other minerals and in stibnite. In crystal form, Antimony is a yellow crystal.
Hazards
Antimony can affect you when breathed in and by passing through your skin.
Exposure can irritate the eyes, nose, throat and skin. Very high levels could cause Antimony poisoning, with symptoms of nausea, headaches, abdominal pain, trouble breathing and death.
Repeated exposure can cause an abnormal chest x-ray to develop and can also damage the heart and liver. o Prolonged or repeated contact can cause skin, nose and mouth ulcers or sores. o If used near acid, a deadly gas can be formed.
Antimony is used in:
Semiconductor technology for making infrared detectors, diodes, and Hall-effect devices.
In alloys with percentages ranging from 1 to 20 - greatly increases the hardness and mechanical strength of lead
Batteries, antifriction alloys, type metal, small arms and tracer bullets, cable sheathing, and minor products use about half the metal produced
Oxides, sulphides, sodium antimonate, and antimony trichloride are used in manufacturing flame-proofing compounds, paints, ceramic enamels, glass, and pottery.
Tartar emetic (hydrated potassium antimonyltartate) is used in medicine
Enamels, rubber compounds, matches and to make metal alloys
