Tungsten (W)
White or grey metallic transition element,formerly called Wolfram. Forms a protective oxide in air and can be oxidized at high temperature. First isolated by Jose and Fausto de Elhuyer in 1783.
| Atomic Number | 74 |
|---|---|
| Atomic Weight | 183.84 |
| Mass Number | 184 |
| Group | 6 |
|---|---|
| Period | 6 |
| Block | d |
| Protons | 74 p+ |
|---|---|
| Neutrons | 110 n0 |
| Electrons | 74 e- |
Properties
| Atomic Radius | 135 pm
|
|---|---|
| Atomic Volume | 9.53 cm³/mol
|
| Covalent Radius | 137 pm
|
| Metallic Radius | 130 pm
|
| Ionic Radius | 66 pm
|
| Crystal Radius | 80 pm
|
| Van der Waals radius |
218.00000000000003 pm
|
| Density | 19.3 g/cm³
|
| Boiling Point | 5,930 K
|
| Melting Point | 3,680 K
|
| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 18, 32, 12, 2 |
| Electronegativity |
1.7
|
| Electrophilicity | 1.3363701299152 eV/particle
|
| Proton Affinity | |
| Electron Affinity | 0.81626 eV/particle
|
| Ionization Potential | 7.86403 eV/particle
|
| Heat of Vaporization | 824 kJ/mol
|
| Heat of Fusion | 35 kJ/mol
|
| Heat of Formation | 851 kJ/mol
|
| Molar Heat Capacity | 24.27 J/(mol K)
|
| Specific Heat Capacity | 0.132 J/(g⋅K)
|
| Thermal Conductivity | 173 W/(m K)
|
| Gas Basicity | |
| Dipole Polarizability | 68 a₀
|
| C6 Dispersion Coefficient | |
| Oxidation States | -2, -1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
| Color | Gray
|
| Crystal Structure | Body Centered Cubic (BCC) |
| Lattice Constant | 3.16 Å
|
| Bulk Modulus | |
| Electrical Resistivity | |
| Electron Configuration | [Xe] 4f14 5d4 6s2 |
| Magnetic Ordering | |
| Magnetic Susceptibility | |
| Phase | Solid |
| Poisson Ratio | |
| Shear Modulus | |
| Young's Modulus | |
| Allotropes | |
| Alternate Names | |
| Adiabatic Index | |
| Appearance | |
| Electric Conductivity | |
| Critical Pressure | |
| Critical Temperature | |
| Curie Point | |
| Electrical | |
| Hardness | |
| Magnetic Susceptibility | |
| Magnetic | |
| Neel Point | |
| Neutron Cross Section | |
| Neutron Mass Absorption | |
| Gas Phase | |
| Quantum Numbers | |
| Refractive Index | |
| Space Group | |
| Speed of Sound | |
| Superconducting Point | |
| Thermal Expansion | |
| Valence Electrons | |
| Classification | |
| Category | Transition metals, Transition metals |
| CAS Group | VIA |
| IUPAC Group | VIB |
| Glawe Number | 57 |
| Mendeleev Number | 53 |
| Pettifor Number | 56 |
| Geochemical Class | |
| Goldschmidt Class | litophile |
| Radioactivity | |
| Radioactive | No |
| Decay Mode | |
| Half-Life | |
| Lifetime | |
| Abundance | |
| Abundance in Earth's crust | 1.25 mg/kg
|
| Abundance in Oceans | 0.0001 mg/L
|
| Abundance in Human Body | |
| Abundance in Meteor | |
| Abundance in Sun | |
| Abundance in Universe | 5×10-8% |
Isotopes of Tungsten
Stable Isotopes
180W 182W 183W 184W 186W
Unstable Isotopes
158W 159W 160W 161W 162W 163W 164W 165W 166W 167W 168W 169W 170W 171W 172W 173W 174W 175W 176W 177W 178W 179W 181W 185W 187W 188W 189W 190W 191W 192W
History
Torbern Bergman obtained from scheelite an oxide of a new element in 1781. In 1783, José and Fausto Elhuyar found an acid made from wolframite that was identical to tungstic acid. Later that year, in Spain, the brothers succeeded in isolating tungsten by reduction of this acid with charcoal, and they are credited with the discovery of the element. From Swedish, tung sten meaning heavy stone
| Discoverers | Fausto and Juan José de Elhuyar |
|---|---|
| Discovery Location | Spain |
| Discovery Year | 1783 |
| Name Origin | Swedish: tung sten (heavy stone): symbol from its German name wolfram. |
Tungsten is considered to be of low toxicity
The chemical symbol, W, comes from the original name of the element, Wolfram
Uses
Tungsten and its alloys are widely used for filaments in electric bulbs and electronic tubes. Tungsten carbide is of great importance to the metal-working, mining, and petroleum industries. Tungsten oxides are used in ceramic glazes and calcium/magnesium tungstates are used widely in fluorescent lighting. Made into filaments for vacuum tubes and electric lights. Also as contact points in cars. Combined with calcium or magnesium it makes phosphors. Tungsten carbide is extremely hard and is used for making cutting tools and abrasives.
Sources
Occurs in the minerals scheelite (CaWO4) and wolframite [(Fe,Mn)WO4].