n. Symbol Sb A metallic element having two allotropic forms: a hard, extremely brittle, lustrous, bluish-white, crystalline material and a gray amorphous form. It is used in a wide variety of alloys, especially with lead in battery plates, and in the manufacture of flame-proofing compounds, paint, semiconductor devices, and ceramic products. Atomic number 51; atomic weight 121.76; melting point 630.63°C; boiling point 1,587°C; specific gravity 6.68; valence 3, 5. See Periodic Table. [Middle English antimonie, from Medieval Latin antimōnium, perhaps from Arabic al-'iṯmid : al-, the + 'iṯmid, antimony (perhaps from Greek stimmi; see STIBINE).] an′ti·moni·al adj. |
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