Atomic Properties of Nb
- Atomic Number of Nb
- 41
- Atomic Mass of Nb
- 92.9060 u
- Electron Configuration
- [Kr] 4d4 5s1
- Electronegativity
- 1.60
- Block
- d-block
- Group
- 5
- Period
- 5
Niobium (Nb) is element 41 on the periodic table. Atomic mass of Nb: 92.9060 u. Nb is in period 5, group 5. Melting point of Nb: 2750.00 K.Density of Nb: 8.57 g/cm³.
Niobium in everyday life and industry
Niobium has no known biological role. The element is considered hypoallergenic, making it suitable for body jewelry. Very little niobium is absorbed through the digestive system.
Discovered by Charles Hatchet in England, 1801
Name origin: From Niobe; daughter of the mythical Greek king Tantalus.
Soft, ductile grey-blue metallic transition element. Used in special steels and in welded joints to increase strength. Combines with halogens and oxidizes in air at 200 degrees celsius. Discovered by Charles Hatchett in 1801 and isolated by Blomstrand in 1864. Called Columbium originally.
Niobium has 1 naturally occurring isotope, plus 1 notable radioactive isotope.
| Isotope | Atomic Mass (u) | Abundance | Half-Life | Decay Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9341Nb (Nb-93)Niobium-93 isotope | 92.906373 | 100.00% | — | — |
| 9541Nb (Nb-95)Niobium-95 isotope | 94.9068358 | 0% | 34.99 days | β⁻ |
Data source: NIH PubChem (aggregated from IUPAC, NIST)
Isotopes of Niobium have important real-world applications in science and industry.
95ᵐNb (metastable, half-life 3.6 days) has been used in tumor research and imaging studies.
Used as an alloy with iron and nickel. It can be used in nuclear reactors and is known to be superconductive when alloyed with tin, aluminum or zirconium.
Occurs in a mineral columbite. Formerly known as colombium (Cb). It is used in stainless steel alloys for nuclear reactors, jets and missiles.
Loading quiz...