Relating to antimony in its higher oxidation state, or describing acids and compounds containing antimony.
From antimony + -ic (suffix meaning 'of or relating to'). In chemistry nomenclature, -ic denotes the higher oxidation state of an element, while -ous denotes the lower oxidation state (e.g., ferric vs. ferrous).
The -ic versus -ous distinction is a hidden code in chemistry: antimonic acid is stronger and more oxidized than antimonious acid, just as ferric iron is more oxidized than ferrous iron. One tiny suffix tells chemists huge amounts about reactivity.
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