Antimony

Location:  Group 15, Period 5
Atomic Weight:  121.75
Coordination Number:  6
Chemical Form in Solution:  Sb(O)C₄H₄O₆^-1

Storage & Handling:  Keep tightly sealed when not in use. Store and use at 20 ± 4°C. Do not pipet from container. Do not return portions removed for pipetting to container.

Chemical Compatibility:  Stable in conc. HCl, dilute or conc. HF. Stable in dilute HNO₃ as the fluoride or tartrate complex. Avoid basic media. Stable with most metals and inorganic anions in acidic media as the tartrate provided the acidity is not too high or the acid is oxidizing causing loss of the stabilizing tartrate ion. The fluoride complex of antimony is stable in strong acid but you should only mix with other metals that are fluorinated.

Stability:  2-100 ppb levels stable for months in 1% HNO₃ / LDPE container. 1-10,000 ppm solutions chemically stable for years in 1-2% HNO₃ / LDPE container.

Sb Containing Samples (Preparation & Solution):  Metal and alloys (soluble in H₂O / HF / HNO₃ mixture); Oxides (soluble in HCl and tartaric acid or H₂O / HF / HNO₃ mixtures); Ores (fusion with Na₂CO₃ in Pt⁰ followed by dissolving the fuseate in a H₂O / HF / HNO₃ mixture); Organic based (Sulphuric acid / hydrogen peroxide digestion).