WHAT ARE THE ALLOTROPES OF ANTIMONY
The allotropes of antimony are different structural forms or arrangements in which antimony atoms can exist. Antimony is a chemical element with the symbol Sb and atomic number 51. It has several known allotropes, the most stable of which are:
1. Gray Antimony (α-antimony): This is the most common form of antimony at room temperature. It has a metallic appearance and is a brittle, silvery-gray solid. Gray antimony consists of layers of antimony atoms arranged in a rhombohedral lattice structure. Each layer is slightly shifted from the one above or below, creating a layered structure. Gray antimony is a poor conductor of electricity.
2. Yellow Antimony (β-antimony): Yellow antimony is the high-temperature allotrope, which forms when gray antimony is heated above its melting point (630.74°C or 1167.3°F). It has a needle-like structure made up of long chains of antimony atoms. Yellow antimony is metastable and quickly reverts back to gray antimony when cooled.
3. Black Antimony (γ-antimony): Black antimony is an allotrope that forms under high pressures. It has a different cubic crystal structure than gray or yellow antimony. Black antimony is not commonly encountered as it requires extremely high pressures to stabilize this allotrope.
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