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What are some interesting facts that I could learn from you that I could not find on the internet about the element, Antimony? Also, is it possible to find it as a solid even though it melts at over 1000 degrees f?
Question Date: 2010-10-25
Answer 1:

At atmospheric pressure, Antimony will always be found as a solid below 1167 degrees F. Above 1167 degrees F, it will be a liquid at atmospheric pressure. If the pressure is reduced below one atmosphere,Antimony will melt at a lower temperature, although I can not find a good phase diagram so I do not have exact numbers. In general though,you can assume the lower the pressure, the lower the melting temperature.

Now for the interesting facts (taken from Nature's Building Blocks: An A-Z Guide to the Elements by John Emsley):

Despite its toxicity, Antimony has been used as medicine throughouthistory, starting as early as the second half of the first century AD.Although Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's death was attributed to a diseasecalled Miliary fever, his symptoms were "identical to those of acuteantimony poisoning." It is likely that he was accidentally poisoned because at the time doctors prescribed antimony compounds as medicine.

In ancient Egypt, antimony sulfide was used as mascara.

"Greek fire may have contained antimony sulfide in the form of stibnite. The incendiary liquid was fired from the warships of the Byzantine navy and brought terror to those exposed to it because it was impossible to extinguish; it even burned on the surface of water.How it was made has remained a secret to this day and it was a capital offense to reveal it. It was last used in the defense of the capital,Constantinople, in 1453. The most likely composition of Greek fire was crude oil, stibnite, and salt petre, a combination that would be highlyflammable and almost impossible to extinguish with water.

Once it is ignited antimony sulfide generates a lot of heat.Antimony sulfide has a different role to play in modern warfare.

Because it reflects infrared radiation, in the same way as green vegetation, it is used in camouflage paints."

I hope this helps!


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