Week Eight: A Question of Balance

1. Semiconductor of the week:

Great web page explaining what a semiconductor is:
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/2072/semicond.htm

The semiconductor I chose is antimony because I wanted to learn about something I had never heard of before. And the word sounds kind of like a mix between Anthony and Alimony. It is silly to me that its symbol is Sb. What the heck? Well it is from the latin word “stibium” which could mean “mark,” “against one,” or “not found as a metal,” “not found unalloyed.” According to some sources the word means “monk killer” which makes the most sense to me as many early alchemists were monks and and antimony is poisonous. It acts on the body in the same way arsenic does -- small does add up, a large dose is lethal.

The element has been known for a very long time. That feels kind of nice. Something around with a history that humans have been playing with for a while. Because it has that shiny silvery luster, and we humans, like crows, like sparkly things, it had been used in make-up in the Middle East. The word “kohl” is used for a compound of antimony mixed with fat (which was used as the make-up). If you have any experience with eyeliner you will know that the word “kohl” is still used to describe certain kinds of eyeliner, though now that eyeliner -- often imported -- contains lead instead of antimony. Of course this is probably even more dangerous than if it were concocted with antimony.

Today antimony is used as a semiconductor in the computer industry. The most common use is to strengthen the hardness of lead in storage batteries. Other than other manufacturing uses and in safety matches and as a flame retardant in paint and enamel (the material burns so long as a flame is held to it, but then goes out as soon as the flame is removed), it had been used to treat Schistosomiasis (one of the most interesting names for a disease). Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that comes from being in water that has a kind of snail that passes the parasite on to people (and other animals). It’s not necessarily deadly, but a chronic disease that can cause a lot of major problems, especially in children in developing countries. Add antimony on top of that and you’re probably a goner. It is reportedly no longer used to treat Schistosomiasis.

China contains the lion’s share of antimony -- estimated at over eighty percent (though there is a town in Utah called Antimony.) The element is found to be contained in over 100 minerals. It’s atomic number is 51.

2. Chembalancer Link

It was hard at first. The first one stumped me. Then when I figured that out I gathered some steam and they began to be really easy. The little explanations were kind of lost on me because I don't have enough exposure to the chemicals, can't really picture them in my mind, to really put the information into context. But the math was fun!

3. Balancing Equations Link

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