by Greg "It's made for steel so bow down and kneel" |
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This element was discovered by Charles Hatchett, in 1801 in England. The meaning of the name comes from the Greek woird "Niobe" meaning the "Daughter of Tantalus". Tantalum is closely related to Niobium on the periodic table, and have almost the excact same properties. |
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Niobium is important in the history of high temperature super conductiovity. The ability ofthe alloy to withstand large currents permitted the construction of super conducting magnets foir instruments as nuclear magnetic reconance scanners used in diagnostic medicine. It is also added to steel for other reasons too. It enables the steel to withstand high temperatures over long periods of time. It also is used in the Gemini spaceship and space air craft and also in in certain fine cutting tools. |
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Niobium compounds are encoutered relativley rare by most people. In most cases, in the labratory, all Niobium compounds should be considered highly toxic. The metal dust causes eye and skin irritation and is likely to be a fire hazard
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The name niobium was adopted by IUPAC in 1950, but some commercial producers still refer to it as Columbium. It is a shiny, greyish white, soft, ducticle matal. It is also a good conducter of the thermal electric current. Niobium has a higher density and melting point (except mercury) than elements in group 1+2. It's melting point is 2750 degrees and 5017degrees celcius is it's freezing point. Eighteen isotopes of Niobium are known |
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The process of isolation of niobium is very complicated. Niobium minerals consist of niobium and tantalum. Thay are also similiar chemically. It's challenging to seperate them. Niobium is extracted from the ores by fusing the ore with alkalai and then extracting the resultant mixture into hydro folic acid. The liquid extraction technique is used in the seperation. |
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By David L Heiserman Division of McGraw Hill Tab Books Blue Ridge Summit
By Albert Stwertka Oxford University Press New York, New York
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