Atomic Number: 72 Period Number: 6 Group Number: 4
Hafnium is a shiny and silvery metal. Its characteristics are more like zirconium. It is very active and do not have free Hafnium in nature. Most of hafnium is found in the natural zirconium compounds and zircon ores. There are five stable isotopes of Hafnium: 176Hf, 177Hf, 178Hf, 179Hf and 180Hf.
Hafnium do not have widely used because the low abundance and complex separation method. Most of them has been used in nuclear reactors because its ability in absorbing multiple neutrons. Due to its heat resistance and its affinity to oxygen and nitrogen, hafnium is a good scavenger for oxygen and nitrogen in gas-filled and incandescent lamps. Hafnium is also used as the electrode in plasma cutting because of its ability to shed electrons into air.
Melting point of hafnium carbide is near 3890°C, which is highest melting point of any known two-element compound. Hafnium nitride (HfN) also has a high melting point, around 3305°C. Other hafnium compounds include: hafnium chloride (HfCl4), hafnium fluoride (HfF4) and hafnium oxide (HfO2).
Atomic Number: 72
Atomic Weight: 178.49
Melting Point: 2506 K (2233°C or 4051°F
Physical and Chemical properties:
Atomic Number: 72
Atomic Weight: 178.49
Melting Point: 2506 K
Boiling Point: 4876 K
Density: 13.3 g/cm3
Phase at Room Temperature: Solid
Ionization Energy: 6.825 eV
Oxidation State: +4
Atomic Number: 72
Atomic Weight: 178.49
Melting Point: 2506 K (2233°C or 4051°F
See also:
Wikipedia - Basics on Hafnium
WebElements - The basic elements of Hafnium
Jefferson Lab - Learning about Hafnium
Atomic Number: 72
Atomic Number: 7mic Weight: 178
