Zinc is a Block D, Group 12, Period 4 element. The number of electrons in each of Zinc's shells is 2, 8, 18, 2, and its electronic configuration is [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s². In its elemental form zinc's CAS number is 7440-66-6. The zinc atom has a radius of 133.5.pm and it's Van der Waals radius is 139.pm. Combined with other elements as ores, Zinc is found in nature. Zinc is considered non-toxicin healthy doses but can cause nausea if taken in excess. Zinc is a bluish-white, lustrous metal which we produce in Special High Grade (SHG) purities. It is brittle at ordinary temperatures but malleable at 100 to 150 o C. It is a fair conductor of electricity, and burns in air at high red heat with evolution of white clouds of the oxide. It has unusual electrical, thermal, optical, and solid-state properties that have not been fully investigated. The metal is employed to form numerous alloys with other metals. Brass, nickel, silver, commercial bronze, soft solder, and aluminum solder are some of the more important alloys. Large quantities of zinc are used to produce die castings, which are used extensively by the automotive, electrical, and hardware industries. Zinc is also used extensively togalvanize other metals such as iron to prevent corrosion. Zinc oxide is widely used in the manufacture of paints, rubber products, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, floor coverings, plastics, printing inks, soap, storage batteries, textiles, electrical equipment, and other products. Zinc sulfide is used in making luminous dials, X-ray and TV screens, and fluorescent lights The chloride and chromate are also important compounds. Zinc is available as metal and compounds with purities from 99% to 99.9999% (ACS grade to ultra-high purity); metals in the form of foil, sputtering target, and rod, and compounds as submicron and nanopowder. Zinc was first discovered by Andreas Marggraf in 1746. The element name Zinc originates from the German word "zin" meaning tin. See Zinc research below.

Antimony is a Block P, Group 15, Period 5 element. The number of electrons in each of Antimony's shells is 2, 8, 18, 18, 5 and its electronic configuration is [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p³. In its elemental form antimony's CAS number is 7440-36-0. The antimony atom has a radius of 145.pm and it's Van der Waals radius is 200.pm. The chemical state of antimony affects the toxicity of the element and its compounds. Antimony is finding use in semiconductor technology for making infrared detectors, diodes and Hall-effect devices in crystalline structures, such as antimony telluride and gallium antimonide. Antimony is however a poor conductor of heat and electricity. It greatly increases the hardness and mechanical strength of lead. This has found applications in batteries, antifriction alloys, small arms and tracer bullets and cable sheathing. Antimony compounds are used in manufacturing flame-proofing compounds, paints, ceramic enamels, glass, and pottery glazes. Antimony is available as metal and compounds with purities from 99% to 99.9999% (ACS grade to ultra-high purity); metals in the form of foil, sputtering target, and rod, and compounds as submicron and nanopowder. See Antimony research below.

American Elements semi conducting materials are crystal structures produced from ultra high purity starting materials synthesized by our high purity production facility which includes several large electric muffle furnaces, a tube furnace for hydrogen reduction, 50 gallon glass-lined Pfaudler reactors supported by our analytical laboratory containing X-ray diffraction, SEM, AA, BET surface area, and ICP Spectrometry for trace metals analysis. See a discussion of American Elements Ultra High Purity and Analytical capabilities. See Crystal Growth for processes used to fabricate semiconductor materials, which include:

Crystal "pulling" by the Czochaiski method for production of semiconductor materials
Flux growth and gradient freeze
Directional solidification of fluorites using both the Bridgman-Stockbarger and float zoning techniques