Symbol
In
  
Nb
  
Period Number
5
  
5
  
Block
p block
  
d block
  
Element Family
Post-Transition
  
Transition Metal
  
Space Group Name
I4/mmm
  
Im_ 3m
  
Interesting Facts
- Luster of Indium is bright in nature.
- Reich and richer were looking for thallium in zinc metal and they discovered Indium metal.
  
- Niobium metal was used to get called Columbium in past.
- Niobium metal found freely in nature (abundance).
  
Sources
Mining, Ores of metals
  
By-product of Tin Extraction, Found in Minerals, Mining, Ores of Minerals
  
History
  
  
Who Discovered
Ferdinand Reich and Hieronymous Theodor Richter
  
Charles Hatchett
  
Discovery
In 1863
  
In 1801
  
Abundance
  
  
Abundance In Sun
~0.0000004 %
  
23
~0.0000004 %
  
23
Abundance In Earth's Crust
Uses & Benefits
- It is used to produce indium tin oxide (ITO), it is used in manufacturing touch screens, flat screen TVs and solar panels.
- Its nitride, phosphide and antimonide are used in transistors and microchips.
  
- Niobium alloys are used in jet engines and rockets and spacecraft, beams and girders for buildings and oil and gas pipelines.
- It is used superconducting magnets in particles accelerators, NMR and MRI equipment.
  
Industrial Uses
Aerospace Industry, Automobile Industry
  
Aerospace Industry, Ammunition Industry, Electrical Industry, Electronic Industry
  
Medical Uses
Medical Research
  
NA
  
Other Uses
Alloys, In Nuclear Reactors
  
Alloys
  
Biological Properties
  
  
Toxicity
Non Toxic
  
Low Toxic
  
Present in Human Body
Yes
  
Yes
  
In Blood
Not Available
  
0.01 Blood/mg dm-3
  
25
In Bone
Not Available
  
0.07 p.p.m.
  
25
Boiling Point
2,000.00 °C
  
99+
2,468.00 °C
  
99+
Appearance
  
  
Physical State
Solid
  
Solid
  
Color
Silvery Gray
  
Gray
  
Luster
Lustrous
  
Metallic
  
Hardness
  
  
Vickers Hardness
Not Available
  
Speed of Sound
1,215.00 m/s
  
99+
3,480.00 m/s
  
21
Optical Properties
  
  
Allotropes
No
  
No
  
α Allotropes
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
β Allotropes
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
γ Allotropes
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Chemical Formula
In
  
Nb
  
Isotopes
  
  
Electronegativity
  
  
Pauling Electronegativity
Sanderson Electronegativity
Allred Rochow Electronegativity
Mulliken-Jaffe Electronegativity
Not Available
  
Electropositivity
  
  
Pauling Electropositivity
Ionization Energies
  
  
1st Energy Level
558.30 kJ/mol
  
99+
652.10 kJ/mol
  
99+
2nd Energy Level
1,820.70 kJ/mol
  
18
1,380.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
3rd Energy Level
2,704.00 kJ/mol
  
39
2,416.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
4th Energy Level
5,210.00 kJ/mol
  
17
3,700.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
5th Energy Level
Not Available
  
4,877.00 kJ/mol
  
36
6th Energy Level
Not Available
  
9,847.00 kJ/mol
  
11
7th Energy level
Not Available
  
12,100.00 kJ/mol
  
14
Electrochemical Equivalent
1.43 g/amp-hr
  
99+
0.69 g/amp-hr
  
99+
Other Chemical Properties
Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Radioactivity, Solubility
  
Anti Corrosion, Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Solubility
  
Electron Configuration
[Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p1
  
[Kr] 4d4 5s1
  
Crystal Structure
Tetragonal (TETR)
  
Body Centered Cubic (BCC)
  
Crystal Lattice
TETR-Crystal-Structure-of-Indium.jpg#100
  
BCC-Crystal-Structure-.jpg#100
  
Atom
  
  
Radius of an Atom
  
  
Atomic Weight
114.82 amu
  
99+
Atomic Volume
15.70 cm3/mol
  
33
10.87 cm3/mol
  
99+
Adjacent Atomic Numbers
  
  
Valence Electron Potential
54.00 (-eV)
  
25
104.00 (-eV)
  
8
Lattice Angles
π/2, π/2, π/2
  
π/2, π/2, π/2
  
Lattice C/A Ratio
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Density
  
  
Density At Room Temperature
7.31 g/cm3
  
99+
8.57 g/cm3
  
99+
Density When Liquid (at m.p.)
Not Available
  
Viscosity
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Vapor Pressure
  
  
Vapor Pressure at 1000 K
Not Available
  
Vapor Pressure at 2000 K
Not Available
  
Elasticity properties
  
  
Shear Modulus
Not Available
  
Bulk Modulus
Not Available
  
Poisson Ratio
Not Available
  
Other Mechanical Properties
Ductile, Malleable
  
Ductile, Malleable
  
Magnetic Characteristics
  
  
Magnetic Ordering
Diamagnetic
  
Paramagnetic
  
Electrical Properties
  
  
Electrical Property
Conductor
  
Conductor
  
Resistivity
152.00 nΩ·m
  
23
Electrical Conductivity
0.12 106/cm Ω
  
17
0.07 106/cm Ω
  
28
Electron Affinity
28.90 kJ/mol
  
31
86.10 kJ/mol
  
12
Specific Heat
0.23 J/(kg K)
  
27
0.26 J/(kg K)
  
20
Molar Heat Capacity
26.74 J/mol·K
  
25
24.60 J/mol·K
  
99+
Thermal Conductivity
81.80 W/m·K
  
21
53.70 W/m·K
  
29
Critical Temperature
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Thermal Expansion
32.10 µm/(m·K)
  
9
7.30 µm/(m·K)
  
99+
Enthalpy
  
  
Enthalpy of Vaporization
226.40 kJ/mol
  
40
696.60 kJ/mol
  
4
Enthalpy of Fusion
3.28 kJ/mol
  
99+
27.20 kJ/mol
  
6
Enthalpy of Atomization
242.70 kJ/mol
  
99+
745.00 kJ/mol
  
4
Standard Molar Entropy
57.80 J/mol.K
  
22
36.40 J/mol.K
  
99+