Symbol
Nb
  
Th
  
Period Number
5
  
7
  
Block
d block
  
f block
  
Element Family
Transition Metal
  
Actinide
  
Space Group Name
Im_ 3m
  
P63/mmc
  
Interesting Facts
- Niobium metal was used to get called Columbium in past.
- Niobium metal found freely in nature (abundance).
  
- Thorium metal is used as an alternate option over Uranium for nuclear fuel.
- Thorium metals appearance (silvery white, soft) is somewhat similar to Lead metal.
  
Sources
By-product of Tin Extraction, Found in Minerals, Mining, Ores of Minerals
  
Found in Minerals, Mining
  
History
  
  
Who Discovered
Charles Hatchett
  
Jöns Jakob Berzelius
  
Discovery
In 1801
  
In 1829
  
Abundance
  
  
Abundance In Sun
~0.0000004 %
  
23
Abundance In Earth's Crust
Uses & Benefits
- 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.
  
- Thorium metal is used as an allying agent for Magnesium, It imparts greater strength and resistance to temperature.
-
compound of this metal Thorium oxide is used as an industrial catalyst.
  
Industrial Uses
Aerospace Industry, Ammunition Industry, Electrical Industry, Electronic Industry
  
Aerospace Industry, Automobile Industry, Chemical Industry, Electrical Industry, Electronic Industry
  
Medical Uses
NA
  
Dentistry, Surgical Instruments Manufacturing
  
Other Uses
Alloys
  
Alloys, Jewellery, Sculptures, Statues
  
Biological Properties
  
  
Toxicity
Low Toxic
  
Non Toxic
  
Present in Human Body
Yes
  
Yes
  
In Blood
0.01 Blood/mg dm-3
  
25
0.00 Blood/mg dm-3
  
33
In Bone
0.07 p.p.m.
  
25
0.02 p.p.m.
  
29
Melting Point
1,750.00 °C
  
17
Boiling Point
2,468.00 °C
  
99+
Appearance
  
  
Physical State
Solid
  
Solid
  
Color
Gray
  
Silver
  
Luster
Metallic
  
NA
  
Hardness
  
  
Speed of Sound
3,480.00 m/s
  
21
2,490.00 m/s
  
36
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
Nb
  
Th
  
Isotopes
  
  
Electronegativity
  
  
Pauling Electronegativity
Sanderson Electronegativity
Not Available
  
Allred Rochow Electronegativity
Allen Electronegativity
Not Available
  
Electropositivity
  
  
Pauling Electropositivity
Ionization Energies
  
  
1st Energy Level
652.10 kJ/mol
  
99+
587.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
2nd Energy Level
1,380.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
1,110.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
3rd Energy Level
2,416.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
1,978.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
4th Energy Level
3,700.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
2,780.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
5th Energy Level
4,877.00 kJ/mol
  
36
Not Available
  
6th Energy Level
9,847.00 kJ/mol
  
11
Not Available
  
7th Energy level
12,100.00 kJ/mol
  
14
Not Available
  
Electrochemical Equivalent
0.69 g/amp-hr
  
99+
2.16 g/amp-hr
  
24
Other Chemical Properties
Anti Corrosion, Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Solubility
  
Corrosion, Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Radioactivity
  
Electron Configuration
[Kr] 4d4 5s1
  
[Rn] 6d2 7s2
  
Crystal Structure
Body Centered Cubic (BCC)
  
Face Centered Cubic (FCC)
  
Crystal Lattice
BCC-Crystal-Structure-.jpg#100
  
FCC-Crystal-Structure-of-Thorium.jpg#100
  
Atom
  
  
Radius of an Atom
  
  
Atomic Volume
10.87 cm3/mol
  
99+
19.90 cm3/mol
  
20
Adjacent Atomic Numbers
  
  
Valence Electron Potential
104.00 (-eV)
  
8
59.30 (-eV)
  
23
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
8.57 g/cm3
  
99+
11.72 g/cm3
  
32
Tensile Strength
Not Available
  
Viscosity
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Vapor Pressure
  
  
Elasticity properties
  
  
Other Mechanical Properties
Ductile, Malleable
  
Ductile
  
Magnetic Characteristics
  
  
Magnetic Ordering
Paramagnetic
  
Paramagnetic
  
Electrical Properties
  
  
Electrical Property
Conductor
  
Superconductor
  
Resistivity
152.00 nΩ·m
  
23
157.00 nΩ·m
  
22
Electrical Conductivity
0.07 106/cm Ω
  
28
0.07 106/cm Ω
  
31
Electron Affinity
86.10 kJ/mol
  
12
Not Available
  
Specific Heat
0.26 J/(kg K)
  
20
0.12 J/(kg K)
  
40
Molar Heat Capacity
24.60 J/mol·K
  
99+
26.23 J/mol·K
  
30
Thermal Conductivity
53.70 W/m·K
  
29
54.00 W/m·K
  
28
Critical Temperature
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Thermal Expansion
7.30 µm/(m·K)
  
99+
11.00 µm/(m·K)
  
36
Enthalpy
  
  
Enthalpy of Vaporization
696.60 kJ/mol
  
4
429.00 kJ/mol
  
15
Enthalpy of Fusion
27.20 kJ/mol
  
6
15.48 kJ/mol
  
19
Enthalpy of Atomization
745.00 kJ/mol
  
4
468.60 kJ/mol
  
15
Standard Molar Entropy
36.40 J/mol.K
  
99+
27.30 J/mol.K
  
99+