Niobium


 * Classification: || Niobium is a transition metal ||
 * Color: || silvery-white ||
 * Atomic weight: || 92.9064 ||
 * State: || solid ||
 * Melting point: || 2477 oC, 2750 K ||
 * Boiling point: || 4744 oC, 5017 K ||
 * Shells: || 2,8,18,12,1 ||
 * Electron configuration: || [Kr] 4d4 5s1 ||
 * Density @ 20oC: || 8.57 g/cm3 ||
 * Atomic volume: || 10.87 cm3/mol ||
 * Structure: || bcc: body-centered cubic ||
 * Hardness: || 6.0 mohs ||

Discovery of Niobium
Niobium was discovered in 1801 by Charles Hatchett in an ore sent to England more that a century earlier. Hatchett named the element columbium (symbol Cb). In 1846 Henrich Rose independently discovered the element and named it niobium. The metal was first isolated by Christian Blomstrand in 1864. He reduced the chloride by heating it in a hydrogen atmosphere. The name niobium was adopted internationally in 1950. The element name comes from 'Niobe' meaning daughter of Tantalus in Greek mythology. Niobium sits directly above tantalum in the periodic table, and they share very similar chemical properties. Tantalum was named after Tantalus, father of Niobe.


 * Symbol:** Nb **Atomic Number:** 41 **Atomic Mass:** 92.90638 amu **Melting Point:** 2468.0 °C (2741.15 K, 4474.4 °F) **Boiling Point:** 4927.0 °C (5200.15 K, 8900.6 °F) **Number of Protons/Electrons:** 41 **Number of Neutrons:** 52 **Classification:** Transition Metal **Crystal Structure:** Cubic **Density @ 293 K:** 8.57 g/cm3 **Color:** white

Atomic Structure

 * [[image:http://www.chemicalelements.com/bohr/b0041.gif width="309" height="307"]] ||  || **Number of Energy Levels:** 5
 * First Energy Level:** **Second Energy Level:** **Third Energy Level:** **Fourth Energy Level:** **Fifth Energy Level:** ||

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Isotopes

 * ** Isotope ** || ** Half Life ** ||
 * Nb-90 || 14.6 hours ||
 * Nb-91 || 700.0 years ||
 * Nb-91m || 62.0 days ||
 * Nb-92 || 3.6E7 years ||
 * Nb-92m || 10.13 days ||
 * Nb-93 || Stable ||
 * Nb-93m || 16.1 years ||
 * Nb-94 || 20000.0 years ||
 * Nb-94m || 6.26 minutes ||
 * Nb-95 || 34.97 days ||
 * Nb-95m || 3.61 days ||
 * Nb-96 || 23.4 hours ||
 * Nb-97 || 1.23 hours ||
 * Nb-97m || 58.1 seconds ||

Facts

 * Date of Discovery:** 1801 **Discoverer:** Charles Hatchet **Name Origin:** After Niobe, daughter of mythical king (Tantalus) **Uses:** No uses known **Obtained From:** columbite

Niobium metal has a number of important uses. It is a component of some stainless steels and also alloys with nonferrous metals. These alloys have good strength and other properties, and are used in pipeline construction. The metal has a low capture crosssection for thermal neutrons and so finds use in the nuclear industries. The metal is used in arc-welding rods for some grades of stainless steel. It is used in advanced engineering systems such as those used in the Gemini space program. Some magnets contain niobium and superconductive magnets are made with Nb-Zr alloy wire. Because of its bluish colour, niobium is apparently being used for "body art" products, such as navel rings.
 * Uses**