41Solid
Nb 92.906 Atomic mass · uTransition metals
Niobium
Niobium, formerly columbium, is a chemical element with symbol Nb (formerly Cb) and atomic number 41. It is a soft, grey, ductile transition metal, which is often found in the pyrochlore mineral, the main commercial source for niobium, and columbite. The name comes from Greek mythology:Niobe, daughter of Tantalus since it is so similar to tantalum.
Discovery 1801 (Charles Hatchett)
K2L8M18N12O1
Physical properties
Values for the element in its standard state.
- Density
- 8.57g/cm³
- Melting point
- 2,750K
- Boiling point
- 5,017K
- Atomic radius
- 137pm
- Bonding type
- Metallic
- Molar heat
- 24.6J/(mol·K)
Inside the atom
Electron arrangement and the energy behind its behavior.
Full electron configuration
1s, 2 electrons; 2s, 2 electrons; 2p, 6 electrons; 3s, 2 electrons; 3p, 6 electrons; 3d, 10 electrons; 4s, 2 electrons; 4p, 6 electrons; 4d, 4 electrons; 5s, 1 electrons;
[Kr] represents 36 core electrons. The full view shows them explicitly.
41 electrons Orbital order preserved from source
- Electronegativity
- 1.6Pauling scale
- First ionization energy
- 652kJ/mol
- Electron affinity
- 86kJ/mol
- Van der Waals radius
- Not available
Nb NiobiumAtomic number 41
652kJ/mol
Atomic numberGaps indicate unavailable data
About niobium
- Appearance
- Gray metallic, bluish when oxidized
- Discovery
- 1801 (Charles Hatchett)
- Data source
- Read the reference
A missing value means it is unavailable in this reference dataset. Values can vary with measurement method and conditions.