ANTIMONY, a metal sometimes called re guilts of antimony, occurs, though rarely, native, and is generally procured from the su]phuret, which is the only abundant ore of the metal. When this is heated in contact with iron, the sulphur, on account of its greater affinity for that metal, is separated by it from the anti mony, which is consequently reduced to a nearly pure metallic state. Its colour is silver white, lustre considerable, and the fracture fine laminated when pure ; but the antimony of commerce is broad laminated. Its specific gravity is about 6•7, and atomic weight 64. When slowly cooled after fusion, it crystallizes in the octahedron or its varieties. When it is exposed to the air, this metal tarnishes, and at a red heat it melts. Fulminating antimony is much employed in fire-works.
Oxygen and antimony may be combined in several modes and in different proportions. There are many ways of producing the sesy oxide of antimony, the composition of which is —antimony 2, oxygen 3. This oxide is a clingy white powder, insoluble in water, but it is dissolved by dilute nitric acid, and by strong nitric acid is converted into antimonious acid. Muriatic acid also readily takes it up; the same effect is produced by bitartrate of potash, and the solution on cooling deposits octahedral crystals, which have been long known and em ployed in medicine under the name of tartar emetic, or tartarized antimony. It is soluble also in potash, soda, and ammonia. A second compound is the dtittoxide, or antimonioas acid, containing antimony 1, oxygen 2. This acid is neither fusible nor volatile at a red heat. Its saline compounds are termed antimonites, as antimonite of potash, &c. If it be fused with this alkali, the salt formed dissolves in water, from which the acids throw down a white precipitate of antimonious acid combined with water. A third compound of oxygen and anti mony is the peroxide, or antinzonie acid. It is a pale yellow powder, consisting of antimony 2, oxygen 5. Its action on the animal eco nomy is but slight. Antimonic acid is tasteless and insoluble in water.
Chlorine and Antimony unite to form two compounds. The protoehlorkle, or sesynichloriele sometimes called butter of antimony, is corn posed of chlorine 3, antimony 2. It is a soft and nearly colourless solid. At a moderate heat it liquefies, and it absorbs moisture from the air. From it is prepared the submuriate of antimony, formerly employed in medicine under the name of puluis Algarotti. The other compound is a perchloride of antimony, consist ing of chlorine 5, antimony 2. It is a colour
less or slightly yellow fluid, has a strong dis agreeable smell, and emits white fumes. It attracts moisture from the air, and when mixed with water it is decomposed, and con verted into muriatic acid and antimonic acid.
Bromine and Antimony form bromide of anti mony. At common temperatures it is solid, colourless, crystallizes in needles, attracts moisture from the air, and is decomposed by water. It melts at about 206° Fahrenheit, and boils at 518°. Iodine also combines with anti. mony to form an iodide.
Sulphur and Antimony combine to form several compounds. The chief of these is the sesquisulphuret, or crude antimony, which is the principal ore of the metal. It is found in many parts of the earth ; it is of a lead gray colour, possessing considerable splendour, and is met with compact, in acioular crystals, and in rhombic prisms. It is composed of sulphur 3 atoms, antimony 2 atoms. It is much em ployed in preparing metallic antimony, glass of antimony, crocus of antimony, James's pow der, and some preparations in the London and other pharmacopmias. It is soluble in a hot solution of potash or soda ; on cooling, an orange red substance is deposited, called kermes-mineral ; this was formerly much used in medicine. When an acid is added to the remaining cold solution, a further portion of a similar precipitate is formed : this is some times called the golden sulphuret of antimony, and in the 'London Pharmacopoeia,' sulphmire. tuna antimonii preccipitatunt.
The only salt of antimony, strictly speaking, of any great importance, is the double tartrate of potash and antimony, usually termed tartar emetic, or tartarized antimony—the antinzo taunt tartarizatum of the London Pharmaco poeia.' Of all the preparations of antimony this is the most valuable. The Pharmacopoeias also contain a preparation in imitation of James's powder, called puleis antinzonialis.
Antimony is susceptible of combining with all metals. It makes them very brittle. The principal alloys of antimony are that with lead, employed as type metal, and tho alloy of anti mony and tin, used for plates on which music is engraved.
It has been recently suggested, by Mr. For • rest of Liverpool, that antimony would be a ; good substitute for lead in the manufacture of white paint. He considers that the oxide of antimony is usually cheaper than white lead, that it is not so apt to lose its colour, and that an equal weight of paint will spread over a much larger surface.
Antimony sells at the present tune in the London market at 448. to 60s. per cwt.