niobium

[ nahy-oh-bee-uhm ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a steel-gray metallic element resembling tantalum in its chemical properties; becomes a superconductor below 9 K; used chiefly in alloy steels. : Nb; : 41; : 92.906; : 8.4 at 20°C.

niobium

/ naɪˈəʊbɪəm /

noun

1. a ductile white superconductive metallic element that occurs principally in columbite and tantalite: used in steel alloys. Symbol: Nb; atomic no: 41; atomic wt: 92.90638; valency: 2, 3, or 5; relative density: 8.57; melting pt: 2469±10°C; boiling pt: 4744°C Former namecolumbium

niobium

/ nī-ō′bē-əm /

1. A soft, silvery, ductile metallic element that usually occurs in nature together with the element tantalum. It is used to build nuclear reactors, to make steel alloys, and to allow magnets to conduct electricity with almost no resistance. Atomic number 41; atomic weight 92.906; melting point 2,468°C; boiling point 4,927°C; specific gravity 8.57; valence 2, 3, 5.
2. See Periodic Table

Word History and Origins

Origin of niobium¹

From New Latin, dating back to 1835–45; Niobe, -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of niobium¹

C19: from New Latin, from Niobe (daughter of Tantalus), so named because it occurred in tantalite

Example Sentences

The oxide of niobium dissolved in a bead of microcosmic salt gives a bluish colour in the reducing flame.

From Project Gutenberg

The corresponding group consists of nitrogen, vanadium and niobium; they are triatomic, paramagnetic, and negative.

From Project Gutenberg

Chemically related to vanadium are the two elements tantalum and columbium or niobium.

From Project Gutenberg

But the knowledge was very imperfect; neither was it much clarified by H. Rose, who regarded niobium oxide as the element.

From Project Gutenberg