What is the chemical symbol for antimony?

Sb, from stibium, the Latin name for the mineral it comes from - which is itself from the Egyptian and Greek words for the black powder used as eye cosmetic. Kohl is antimony sulphide, so the eyeliner in Egyptian tomb paintings and the element in a modern flame retardant are the same substance.

It is a metalloid, and its useful property is that it expands slightly as it solidifies, which almost nothing else does apart from water. That made it essential to printing: type metal is lead with antimony added, and the expansion pushes the alloy into every corner of the mould so the letter comes out sharp. Movable type in Europe depended on it.

It has also been poisoning people for centuries under medical supervision. Antimony compounds were prescribed as emetics and purgatives well into the nineteenth century, and reusable antimony cups were sold - wine left in one overnight became an emetic, and the cup could be used again. Mozart's death has been attributed to antimony poisoning by some historians, among a long list of other candidates, since it was a standard treatment for fever.