The chemical symbol for antimony is Sb. This symbol is derived from the Latin word "stibium," which means "stibnite," a common ore of antimony. Antimony is a metalloid element, which means it exhibits properties of both metals and non-metals. It has an atomic number of 51 and is often used in alloys to improve their hardness and mechanical strength. Antimony compounds have various applications, including flame retardants in plastics and textiles, as well as in the production of semiconductors. While antimony is not highly abundant in the Earth's crust, it is important in many industrial applications.