41Nb92.906
Niobium
Transition metalsHard, shiny metals that conduct heat and electricity well and often form coloured compounds.
[Kr] 4d⁴ 5s¹
- Atomic number
- 41
- Atomic mass
- 92.906
- Protons
- 41
- Neutrons
- 52 (most common)
- Electrons
- 41
- Shells
- 2, 8, 18, 12, 1
- State at 25 °C
- Solid
- Position
- Group 5, period 5
Proton (+)Neutron (0)Electron (−)
Discovered byCharles Hatchett, 1801Charles Hatchett: 1 element
Hatchett named it columbium. Because it was so like tantalum, it was renamed after Niobe, daughter of Tantalus in Greek myth.
Did you know?
- Niobium alloys become superconductors when very cold.
- It can be coloured by heating, so it's used in jewellery.
Where it's found
- Pyrochlore ore, mostly mined in Brazil
What it's used for
- Superconducting magnets in MRI scanners and particle accelerators
- Strong steel for pipelines
Try it
There's no safe home experiment for Niobium. Explore it with the animated atom above instead.