NIOBIUM

The most powerful magnet in the world is one at the Lawrence Laboratory in Berkeley, California, made up of niobium and tin.

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Some Facts:

Niobium is a shiny, white transition metal found in the fifth period of the periodic table.  It was discovered in England in 1801 by Charles Hatchet.  The name niobium comes from the Greek word "Niobe" meaning "daughter of Tantalus." 

A Memory Peg:

41. Unbearable Onion (Niobium Nb). "For one" person only. Sounds like Niobium and like "4,1". In Greek mythology, Niobe wept for the loss of her children, like an onion makes you weep.                                                                                                            

Crystal Structure: cubic body centered

Occurrence and Extraction:

Niobium occurs primarily in two minerals, columbite and pyrochlore.  A second element, tantalum, is always present in these minerals along with niobium.  Separating the two elements form each other is very difficult.  The abundance of niobium in the Earth's crust is estimated to be about 20 ppm.

Price per : $400/kg

Shell Structure:

Uses:

• used primarily in the manufacture of alloys for use in products such as nuclear reactor components, air planes and space vehicles, and skateboards

• its alloys are becoming more popular for the manufacture of jewelry because they are light weight and do not produce allergic reactions

• alloys are also used in the construction of superconducting magnets

AB Drop	Earth	Butterfly	Dolphin	Heart	Note

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References:

http://www.webelements.com/