Antimony (Sb) Fun Facts

51 Sb
Superhero Identity

"The Flame Retardant, a hero who stops fires before they can spread through plastics and textiles."

The true essence of Antimony (Sb) on the molecular frontier.

Appearance

Antimony is a brittle, silvery-white metalloid.

Everyday Connection

Antimony is found as an ingredient in flame-retardant clothing or electronics.

In Pop Culture

Antimony was used by ancient Egyptians as kohl eyeliner � seen in many historical films.

Did You Know?

1

Its chemical symbol, Sb, comes from its historical Latin name, 'stibium'.

2

Ancient Egyptians used powdered stibnite (antimony sulfide) as a black eyeliner and mascara, known as kohl.

3

Antimony is a crucial ingredient in flame retardants, added to plastics, textiles, and other materials to make them less flammable.

4

Adding antimony to lead makes the lead harder and stronger, which is why it's used in lead-acid car batteries.

5

Despite being a metalloid, it is a poor conductor of heat and electricity.