ANTIMONY

Zoë FergusonAsha Marchant ANTIMONY

Zoё FergusonAsha Marchant

WHAT IS ANTIMONY

Antimony is a semi-metallic chemical element which can exist in two forms: metallic, which is bright, silvery, hard and brittle, and the non-metallic form, which is a gray powder

Antimony is a poor conductor of heat and electricity, and is stable in dry air

Atomic Number: 51 Atomic Mass: 121.75 g.mol^-1 Density: 6.684 g.cm^-3

HISTORY

Antimony was used in biblical times, back before Loreal had a makeup line, by people who would take the stibnite from the antimony and use it as a pencil to color their eyebrows, or ‘eyeliner’ their eyes.

Often confused with lead back in the day, but the first person to clearly identify it as antimony was French scientist, Nicholas Lémery

In the early 1700’s, antimony was a popular medicine in pill-form, used as a laxative that could ‘blast through the most compacted bowels.’

By the 20th century, doctors declared antimony as dangerous. The alchemical symbol

for antimony. Stibnite

DETECTION

Can be discerned by an orange precipitate that is formed when

Hydrogen Sulphide, H2S, is passed into an acidified solution of the

substance being tested.

HEALTH EFFECTS

Irritation of eyes, skin, and lungs After a while of exposure, more

serious health effects may occur, such as lung diseases, heart problems, diarrhea, severe vomiting, and stomach ulcers.

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS

• Can be found in soils, waters, and air in very small amounts

• Antimony may kill or give the animals various health defects similar to those of humans after exposure

APPLICATIONS

Used as a bronzing coating for metals and plaster casts

Used in medicines such as Tartar Emetic, (i.e. Hydrated Potassium Antimonyl Antimonate)

Used in the manufacture of enamels Used in the electronics industry in the

manufacture of semiconductors Used in the manufacture of coloring in

pottery and ceramics.

CURE (TREATMENT)

If poisoned by antimony, go outside and inhale fresh air, if inhalation is a suspected exposure route

For direct contact with the skin, remove the contaminated clothing and rinse and wash the skin with soap and water

Get medical attention Continue to hydrate, administer intraveneous fluids and

begin treatment with vasopressors (which increase heart rate)

Decontaminate the stomach and begin chelation (a process that removes heavy metals from the blood stream) to bind the antimony out of the blood

Continue to hydrate and cross your fingers

FUN FACTS/EXAMPLES

It is speculated that the famous composer, Amadeus Mozart, a hypochondriac, was killed by an overdose of antimony pills.

The molding for cars and batteries is made of antimony

In 1939 Babbitt created an alloy composed of 4 parts copper, 8 parts antimony, and 24 parts tin, which would later come to be known at Babbitt Metal.

MURDER AT THE PRIORY

Charles Bravo (1845-1876) was an elite British lawyer, who was poisoned with antimony in 1876.

The doctors could do nothing to save him, and it took him three days to die.

He had no clue as to who might have poisoned him, and no one else did either

No one was charged with his murder

THIS IS NOT A MURDER In Massachusetts General Hospital, July 2012, a

man developed recurrent vomiting, metabolic acidosis, hepatic failure, and acute renal failure after ingesting tarter emetic (antimony poison tartrate) after trying to stop drinking alcohol

Tartar emetic (antimony) is a gastrointestinal irritant that is what stimulated his vomiting, also concentrating in the liver and causing hepatitis that could turn into hepatic necrosis

After a lot of science, and much prayer, the hospital, after over a month, was able to rid the man’s body of the antimony, and saved his life

BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bravo

http://www.ucc.ie/academic/chem/dolchem/html/elem051.html

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/oct/18/television.artsfeatures

http://www.thepoisonreview.com/