Cobalt

Properties
Atomic symbol |  Co
Atomic number |  27
Classification |  Transition metal
Atomic mass |  58.9 amu
Other Information
Date of discovery |  1737
Name of discoverer |  George Brandt
Name origin |  From the German kobold.
Uses |  In magnets, medical radio-isotopes and (as a compound) blue or green pigment in ceramics and glasses.
Obtained from |  Cobaltine, erythrite, glaucodot, and skutterudite.

Cobalt (KO-bolt) is a lustrous, silvery-blue metal which is magnetic.[1]

## Contents

* 1 Properties
* 2 History
* 3 Uses
* 4 References

## Properties[edit]

Melting Point: 2723 °F (1495 °C or 1768 K)

Boiling Point: 5301 °F (2927 °C or 3200 K)

Density: 8.86 grams per cubic centimeter

State of matter at Room Temperature: Solid[2]

Cobalt is a hard, brittle metal, which is similar in appearance to iron and nickel.[3]

## History[edit]

The tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamen, who ruled from 1361-1352 BC, contained a small glass object colored deep blue with cobalt. Cobalt blue was known even earlier in China and was used for pottery glazes.[4] Modern cobalt was officially discovered by a Swedish chemist named Georg Brandt, in 1739.[5]

## Uses[edit]

Cobalt is used in several alloys, including Alnico. These alloys are used in things like jet turbines and gas turbine generators. Cobalt salts have been used for centuries to give pottery and other items a blue color. Radioactive cobalt-60 is also useful to treat cancer and in some countries, to irradiate food for preservation.[6]

## References[edit]

1. ↑ http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/27/cobalt
2. ↑ http://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele027.html
3. ↑ http://chemistry.about.com/od/elementfacts/a/cobalt.htm
4. ↑ http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/27/cobalt
5. ↑ http://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele027.html
6. ↑ http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/27/cobalt

Periodic Table of the Elements

1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 18

1.008

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

4.003

6.939

9.0122

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

10.811

12.011

14.007

15.999

18.998

10.183

22.99

24.312

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

26.982

28.086

30.974

32.064

35.453

39.948

39.102

40.08

44.956

47.9

50.942

51.996

54.938

55.847

58.933

58.71

63.546

65.37

69.72

72.59

74.922

78.96

79.904

83.8

85.47

87.62

88.905

91.22

92.906

95.94

[97]

101.07

102.91

106.4

107.87

112.4

114.82

118.69

121.75

127.6

126.9

131.3

132.91

137.34

57*

138.91

178.49

180.95

183.85

186.2

190.2

192.2

195.09

196.97

200.59

204.37

207.19

208.98

210

210

222

215

226.03

89**

227.03

104

[261]

105

[262]

106

[266]

107

[264]

108

[265]

109

[268]

110

[271]

111

[272]

112

[277]

113

[284]

114

[289]

115

[288]

116

[292]

117

[293]

118

[294]

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
*Lanthanides  |

140.12

140.91

144.24

145

150.35

151.96

157.25

158.92

162.5

164.93

167.26

168.93

173.04

174.97

|  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
**Actinides  |

232.04

231

238.03

237.05

239.05

241.06

244.06

249.08

252.08

252.08

100

257.1

101

258.1

102

259.1

103

262.11

|  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |