Atomic Number: 74 Period Number: 6 Group Number: 6
Tungsten is a light gray and soft metal, which has highest melting point. the minerals wolframite (iron-manganese tungstate, (FeMn)WO4), scheelite (calcium tungstate, (CaWO4) and ferberite (FeWO4) are the main sources for tungsten. There are five long half-lives isotopes of tungsten: 180W, 182W, 183W, 184W, 186W.
Approximately half of the tungsten mined is used to create tungsten carbine, which is used to make wear-resistant abrasives, cutters and knives. It makes carbine harder. Items such as drill bits, circular saws, metal work tools and woodwork tools. It is also used in the creation of armor piercing bullets, cannon shells, grenades and missiles to create supersonic shrapnel.
Tungsten forms many useful materials. Tungsten sulfide (WS2) is a high temperature lubricant and it is also an important catalyst. Tungsten Oxide (WO3), which is yellow color, is widely used in industry to make x-ray screen phosphors.
Physical and Chemical properties:
Atomic Weight: 183.84
Melting Point: 3695 K
Boiling Point: 5828 K
Density: 19.3 g/cm3
Phase at Room Temperature: Solid
Ionization Energy: 7.98 eV
Oxidation State: +6
See also:
Wikipedia - Basics onTungsten
WebElements - The basic elements of Tungsten
Jefferson Lab - Learning about Tungsten
