Symbol
Nb
  
U
  
Period Number
5
  
7
  
Block
d block
  
f block
  
Element Family
Transition Metal
  
Actinide
  
Space Group Name
Im_ 3m
  
Cmcm
  
Interesting Facts
- Niobium metal was used to get called Columbium in past.
- Niobium metal found freely in nature (abundance).
  
- Major mining countries of Uranium include Russia, Australia, Namibia, Canada and Niger and total 33% Uranium are mine in Kazakhstan.
  
Sources
By-product of Tin Extraction, Found in Minerals, Mining, Ores of Minerals
  
Earth's crust, Mining, Ores of Minerals
  
History
  
  
Who Discovered
Charles Hatchett
  
Not Available
  
Discovery
In 1801
  
In 1789
  
Abundance
  
  
Abundance In Sun
~0.0000004 %
  
23
~0.0000001 %
  
26
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.
  
- The main use of this metal include nuclear fuel which is used to generate electricity yin nuclear power stations.
-
Synthetic elements like transuranium are made from Uranium metal.
  
Industrial Uses
Aerospace Industry, Ammunition Industry, Electrical Industry, Electronic Industry
  
Ammunition Industry, Chemical Industry
  
Medical Uses
NA
  
NA
  
Other Uses
Alloys
  
Alloys, Jewellery, Nuclear Reactor's Fuel, Sculptures, Statues
  
Biological Properties
  
  
Toxicity
Low Toxic
  
Toxic
  
Present in Human Body
Yes
  
No
  
In Blood
0.01 Blood/mg dm-3
  
25
Not Available
  
In Bone
0.07 p.p.m.
  
25
Not Available
  
Melting Point
1,132.00 °C
  
39
Boiling Point
2,468.00 °C
  
99+
3,818.00 °C
  
16
Appearance
  
  
Physical State
Solid
  
Solid
  
Color
Gray
  
Silvery Gray
  
Luster
Metallic
  
Metallic
  
Hardness
  
  
Brinell Hardness
2,350.00 MPa
  
2
Vickers Hardness
1,960.00 MPa
  
2
Speed of Sound
3,480.00 m/s
  
21
3,155.00 m/s
  
25
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
  
U
  
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+
597.60 kJ/mol
  
99+
2nd Energy Level
1,380.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
1,420.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
3rd Energy Level
2,416.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
1,900.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
4th Energy Level
3,700.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
3,145.00 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+
1.48 g/amp-hr
  
99+
Other Chemical Properties
Anti Corrosion, Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Solubility
  
Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Radioactivity
  
Electron Configuration
[Kr] 4d4 5s1
  
[Rn] 5f3 6d1 7s2
  
Crystal Structure
Body Centered Cubic (BCC)
  
Orthorhombic (ORTH)
  
Crystal Lattice
BCC-Crystal-Structure-.jpg#100
  
ORTH-Crystal-Structure-of-Uranium.jpg#100
  
Atom
  
  
Radius of an Atom
  
  
Atomic Volume
10.87 cm3/mol
  
99+
12.59 cm3/mol
  
40
Adjacent Atomic Numbers
  
  
Valence Electron Potential
104.00 (-eV)
  
8
170.00 (-eV)
  
4
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+
19.10 g/cm3
  
17
Density When Liquid (at m.p.)
Not Available
  
Tensile Strength
Not Available
  
Viscosity
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Vapor Pressure
  
  
Elasticity properties
  
  
Other Mechanical Properties
Ductile, Malleable
  
Ductile, Malleable
  
Magnetic Characteristics
  
  
Magnetic Ordering
Paramagnetic
  
Paramagnetic
  
Electrical Properties
  
  
Electrical Property
Conductor
  
Poor Conductor
  
Resistivity
152.00 nΩ·m
  
23
Electrical Conductivity
0.07 106/cm Ω
  
28
0.04 106/cm Ω
  
37
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+
27.67 J/mol·K
  
15
Thermal Conductivity
53.70 W/m·K
  
29
27.50 W/m·K
  
40
Critical Temperature
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Thermal Expansion
7.30 µm/(m·K)
  
99+
13.90 µm/(m·K)
  
27
Enthalpy
  
  
Enthalpy of Vaporization
696.60 kJ/mol
  
4
477.00 kJ/mol
  
13
Enthalpy of Fusion
27.20 kJ/mol
  
6
15.48 kJ/mol
  
19
Enthalpy of Atomization
745.00 kJ/mol
  
4
489.50 kJ/mol
  
14
Standard Molar Entropy
36.40 J/mol.K
  
99+
50.20 J/mol.K
  
31