tungsten [W] (wolfram)

Introduction

From the Swedish tung sten meaning heavy stone. The symbol W is derived from the mineral wolframite, from which the element was originally isolated.

Isolated in 1783 by Spanish chemists Jaun Jose & Fausto Elhuyar.

Occurrence

• China has 75% of the world's tungsten ores

Characteristics

• gray-silvery-white, heavy, hard metal
• highest melting point & highest boiling point of all metals
• ductile
• polyvalent
• resembles chromium & molybdenum in many of its properties

Uses

• high-temperature applications
  • heating elements
  • lightbulb filaments
• electrical devices
• hardening alloys (as steel)

More general terms

• trace element
• metal

Additional terms

• periodic table

Database

• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=23964