Niobium
Niobium Nb (or Columbium) is the 41st element of the periodic table.
Properties
- Atomic number: 41
- Family: Transition Metals
- Atomic mass: 92.90638 amu Metals
- Melting point: 2468.0 ° C
- Boiling point: 4927.0 °C
- heat of vaporization is, 680.2 kJ/mol, the heat of fusion is 26.8 kJ/mol.
- electrical resistivity is 16.0 x 10-6 at 20`C, Ohm/cm.
- density: of 8.75 g/cm3
- Electronic configuration: [Kr]4d45s1.
History
Niobium, discovered by Charles Hatchet in 1801, is characterised by a shiny grey color, although exposure at room temperature to air will give it a bluish tinge. Niobium's chemical properties are almost identical to the chemical properties of Tantalum, which appears below Niobium in the periodic table. In Greek mythology Niobe is the daughter of Tantalus
Uses
Niobium has a number of uses: it is a component of some stainless steels and an alloy of other nonferrous metals. These alloys are strong and are often used in pipeline construction. The metal has a low capture cross-section for thermal neutrons and so finds use in the nuclear industries. It is also the metal used in arc welding rods for some grades of stainless steel, and in advanced engineering systems such as those used in the Gemini space program; as well as Body piercing jewelery (usually as an alloy).
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