Antimony is a chemical element boasting fascinating history and interesting properties; the element that has been long and extensively in use; the element that has been important not only in the evolution of science and technology, but also in culture. Historians believe that the first antimony producers lived in Ancient East about 5 thousand years ago.

Antimony: Historical information and origin of the name. Similar to gold, mercury, copper and six other elements, antimony has been known from the prehistoric times, though the name of its discoverer is unknown. Antimony was used in Babylon 3 thousand years 3 BC in making vessels. The Latin name of the element–stibium–was mentioned in the works of Pliny the Elder. In the meantime, the Greek word“στιβι”the name of the element originated from referred initially to the most widespread antimony-bearing mineral–antimony sulfide.