Atomic number 51
Antimony
Metalloid
In the real world
Quick facts
- Atomic mass
- 121.76
- Group
- 15
- Period
- 5
- State (STP)
- solid
- Electronegativity
- 2.05
- Common ox. states
- -3, +3, +5
Properties
Electron configuration
[Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p³
- Ionization energy
- 834.0 kJ/mol
- Electron affinity
- 103.0 kJ/mol
- Melting point
- 903.78 K (630.6 °C)
- Boiling point
- 1860.00 K (1586.8 °C)
How dangerous is it?
3/5 · Hazardous
A brittle, silvery metal whose dust and compounds are poisonous, much like its chemical cousin arsenic. It is handled carefully in labs and industry.
- ToxicImmediate and cumulative
Its dust and compounds are poisonous to breathe or swallow and chemically resemble arsenic. (both the dust and its compounds carry the toxicity)
Worked with using ventilation, gloves, and dust control to avoid breathing or swallowing it.
How it bonds
Antimony continues the group-15 trend: 3 bonds + 1 lone pair (SbH₃, stibine), expanded-octet +5 in Sb₂O₅. Mostly used as a flame retardant additive (Sb₂O₃) in plastics and textiles.
