ANTIMONY

ANTIMONY
Trivalent and pentavalent salts of antimony (sb) are use parenterally in the treatment of
schistosomiasis dan leishmaniasis. Antimony salts are also used in pigments and abrasives and for
flame-proofing fabrics. As with arsenic ,bismuth and mercury, antimony can be detected using the
Reinsch test ( Qualitative test and Confirmatory test).
QUALITATIVE TEST
Applicable to urine, stomach contents and scene residues.

Reagent
1. Concentrated hydrochloric acid (relative density 1.18 ).
2. Aqueous hydrochloric acid (2 mol/l).
3. Copper foil or mesh ( 5 x 10 mm) or wire (2-3 cm).
4. Aqueous nitric acid (500 ml/l).

Method
1. Immediately before use, clean the foil , mesh or wire in nitric acid until the copper acquires a bright surface.
2. Rinse the copper with purified water and add 10 ml of consentrated hydrochloric acid and 20 ml of test
solution in a 100-ml conical flask.
3. Heat on a boiling water-bath in a fume cupboard for 1 hour. Maintain the volume of the solution by adding
dilute hydrochloric acid as necessary.
4. Cool and gently wash the copper with purified water.
 RESULT
Staining on the copper can be interpreted as follows :
Purple black antimony
Dull black arsenic
Shiny black bismuth
Silvery mercury
Selenium and tellurium may also give dark deposits, while high concentrations of sulfur may give a speckled
appearance to the copper.
an estimation of the concentration of antimony in the sample can be made by comparison of the deposit on
the copper with that obtained from a solution containing a known conceniration of the element.
CONFIRMATORY TEST
Applicable to the stained (purple black) copper form the test
above.
Reagent
1. Aqueous potassium cyanide solution (100 g/l). Take care when using concentrated cyanide
solutions.
2. Aqueous sodium sulfite solution (50 g/l, freshly prepared).
3. Aqueous nitric acid (3 mol/l).
4. Quinine / potassium iodide reagent. Dissolve 1 g of quinine sulfate in 100 ml of purified water containing
0,5 ml of concentrated nitric acid (relative density 1.42). When the quinine has completely dissolved, add 2
g of potassium iodide.

Method
1. Place the copper in potassium cyanide solutions and leave for 10 minutes.
2. Wash any undissolved stain with purified water and add 1 ml of sodium sulfite solutions and 1 ml of
aqueous nitric acid
3. Agitate frequently for 5 minutes and add 1 ml of purified water and 1 ml of quinine / potassium iodide
reagent.
Results
Stains due to arsenic dissolve in potassium cyanide solution, while stains due to bismuth and antimony do
not. Bismuth slowly forms an orange / brown suspension with quinine / potassium iodide.

Sensitivity
Antimony, about 2 mg/L
CLINICAL INTERPRETATION
Parenteral administration of antimony salts may lead to cardiotoxicity ; collapse and death form
anaphylactic shock may also occur. Industrial poisoning is usually due to inhalation of antimony compounds
either as fumes or dusts. The symtoms of acute oral antimony poisoning resemble those of acute arsenic
poisoning and include abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. The measurement of blood antimony
concentrations is useful in diagnosing acute poisoning, but this requires atomic absorption spectrophotometry.