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.
Contents
Uses
- Niobium is used with iron and other elements in stainless steel alloys and also in alloys with a variety of nonferrous metals, such as zirconium.
- Niobium alloys are strong and are often used in pipeline construction.
- The metal is used in superalloys for jet engines and heat resistant equipment.
- Niobium is also used for jewelry. At cryogenic temperatures, niobium is a superconductor.
Benefits
- N/A
Cautions
- Niobium has no known biological role. While niobium dust is an eye and skin irritant and a potential fire hazard, elemental niobium on a larger scale is physiologically inert (and thus hypoallergenic) and harmless. It is frequently used in jewelry and has been tested for use in some medical implants.
- Niobium-containing compounds are rarely encountered by most people, but some are toxic and should be treated with care. The short- and long-term exposure to niobates and niobium chloride, two chemicals that are water-soluble, have been tested in rats. Rats treated with a single injection of niobium pentachloride or niobates show a median lethal dose (LD50) between 10 and 100 mg/kg. For oral administration the toxicity is lower; a study with rats yielded a LD50 after seven days of 940 mg/kg.
Interactions
Unknown, please consult with your doctor.
Other names
Nb, atomic number 41
References
Source: Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niobium#Other_uses
Chemicool, http://www.chemicool.com/elements/niobium.html