Antimony

Antimony, Stibium, s. Antimonium, symbol Sb, chemical element, atomic number 51. Atomic weight of antimony-121.76, gives trivalent and pentavalent compounds. In nature, S. is found as stibnite Sb₂S₃; native S. is occasionally found. Ores of S. usually contain arsenic. S. is extracted from ores by roasting or by smelting with iron or carbon. Sp. gr. of S. = 6.69; melting point 630°; boiling point 1,440°. In air under normal conditions, it does not change. It eagerly combines with halogens (burns). It forms alloys with metals. Pharmacologically, antimony belongs to the group of heavy metals and has much in common with arsenic. S. has both local and general effects. When rubbed into the skin, S. causes irritation, erythema, pustules similar to smallpox. Such damage can be observed in professions dealing with antimony: in enamellers (use of antimony oxide), in printers (hard lead, British metal). Trichloride S, a crystalline substance melting at 73°, is used in technology under the name of antimony oil. Due to its local action, when its preparations are taken per os, irritation of the gastric mucosa occurs, causing reflex vomiting, with almost all the taken S. being expelled along with the vomit. Like all emetics, S. in smaller doses has an expectorant effect. After taking large amounts of S. or with prolonged use, local lesions of the gastrointestinal tract may be observed: hyperemia, swelling of the mucosa, ulcers. When toxic doses of S. are introduced into the bloodstream, central vomiting occurs; vomiting movements are also observed in animals with the stomach removed. Capillaries dilate, the activity of the heart weakens, blood pressure falls. The central nervous system is depressed. Respiration, accelerated during the vomiting period, is subsequently depressed. An irritating effect on the kidneys is observed, nephritis is possible. With repeated introduction into the blood of toxic, but not lethal, doses, body weight decreases, fatty degeneration of organs occurs. With small doses, as with arsenic, an increase in body weight is possible. S. has a parasitotropic effect on trypanosomes, in kala-azar, bilharziasis. For these diseases, S. is administered intravenously. Caution is necessary due to the significant toxicity of S. Recently, attempts have been made to use preparations of S. in syphilis, similar to neosalvarsan. Trivalent compounds of S., like those of arsenic, are more toxic than pentavalent ones. Preparations. 1) Stibio-Kalium tartaricum, or Tartarus stibiatus, or Tartarus antimonicus, basic antimony-potassium tartrate [(SbO)O.CO.CH₂(OH).CH(OH)COOK]₂ + H₂O (vomiting stone) - colorless crystals, metallic taste, soluble in 17 parts cold water, in 3 parts boiling water, insoluble in alcohol. Used as an expectorant in doses of 0.005 and as an emetic - dose 0.03-0.06. Maximum single dose per os 0.1, daily 0.3 (Ph. VII). Use of S. in the treatment of kala-azar - see Leishmaniasis. 2) Vinum Antimonii, Vinum stibiatum, emetic wine - solution of vomiting stone in wine 4:1,000. Used as an emetic 8-15 cm³. 3) Stybenyl sodium p-amino-phenylstibinate (C₆H₅CONH-C₆H₄SbO₃·HNa+H₂O). Intravenously or intramuscularly for kala-azar, trypanosomiasis, starting from 0.05. Do not increase before 3 days, cautiously (up to 0.4). 1% solutions are used. 4) Stibosa sodium p-acetyl-p-amino-chlorophenylstibinate CH₃CO-NH-C₆H₃Cl-SbO₃HNa and N-o-stibosa. Used similarly to the previous ones. 2% solutions are used. 5) Stibium sulfuratum aurantiacum (Sb₂S₅) (Ph. VII) - pentasulfide S.. insoluble in water. Prescribed as an expectorant. Previously used very widely for diseases of the respiratory tract (tracheitis, bronchitis). Dose 0.015.

A. Vasiliev. Detection in legal cases. Parts of internal organs, vomit, etc., are destroyed (see Poisons, isolation), precipitated with hydrogen sulfide under appropriate conditions. The precipitate is filtered, washed, and treated with ammonium polysulfide in mixture with aqueous ammonia. The extract is evaporated to dryness on a water bath, treated with nitric acid, evaporated again, the residue is mixed with sodium carbonate. The mixture is gradually introduced into a crucible with molten sodium nitrate. The alloy after cooling is treated with hot water. The insoluble residue (in case of finding S.-insoluble in water sodium pyroantimonate) is filtered, washed, and dissolved in a small amount of concentrated hydrochloric acid: the resulting liquid on a platinum plate under the action of metallic zinc gives a black spot that does not disappear after removing zinc; difference from tin: the separated metallic S. is insoluble in hydrochloric acid. To test, the liquid is decanted and the spot is treated with concentrated hydrochloric acid: dissolution does not occur. The experiment is repeated with the hydrochloric solution, using metallic tin instead of zinc: a black spot appears. The hydrochloric solution is diluted 3-4 times with water and hydrogen sulfide water is added: an orange precipitate appears, soluble in concentrated hydrochloric acid. The orange precipitate is also dissolved by ammonium polysulfide.