cobalt [Co]

Introduction

From the German kobold meaning goblin or evil spirit. Isolated by Swedish chemist Greg Brandt in 1735. Minerals containing cobalt were used by early civilizations of Egypt & Mesopotamia for coloring & dyeing.

Occurrence

• found in the minerals cobalite, smaltite & erythrite
• often associated with iron, nickel, silver, lead & copper ores

Characteristics

• lustrous silver-white-blue hard brittle magnetic metallic element
• stable in air
• unaffected by water
• slowly oxidizes in dilute acid
• low toxicity with ingestion
• suspected carcinogen

Uses

• essential to most species including humans
  • occurs in vitamin B12 (only known carbon-metal bond in biology
• alloys
• ceramics, magnets, stainless steels
• catalysts
• paints
• electroplating

Laboratory

• cobalt in specimen
  • cobalt in hair
  • cobalt in nail
  • cobalt in tissue
  • cobalt in erythrocytes
  • cobalt in body fluid
    • cobalt in blood
    • cobalt in CSF
    • cobalt in serum/plasma
    • cobalt in synovial fluid
    • cobalt in urine

* also see ARUP consult

More general terms

• trace element
• metal

More specific terms

• cobalt-57

Additional terms

• Co+2
• periodic table

Database

• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=104370