The Element Hafnium


Hafnium is a shiny silvery, ductile metal that is corrosion resistant and chemically similar to zirconium. Most zirconium minerals contain 1 to 3% hafnium thus influencing the characteristics of hafnium. It should be noted that zirconium and hafnium are two of the most difficult elements to separate. Chemically classified, hafnium falls under group 4 elements in the periodic table.

Its main application would be its usage in nuclear reactor control rods due to its absorption capacity for thermal neutrons, its excellent mechanical properties and its extreme corrosion resistant nature.

Atomic Number & Chemical Properties


Element Basics:

Chemical Symbol: Hf
Atomic Number: 72
Atomic Weight: 178.49
Element Classification: Transition Metal
Discovered By: Dirk Coster, Georg von Hevesy
Date of Discovery: 1923 (Denmark)
Origin of Name: Hafnia, the Latin name of Copenhagen.

How to Recognize it at a Party:

Silvery, ductile metal

Seriously Atomic Information:

Density (g/cc): 13.31
Melting Point (°K): 2503
Boiling Point (°K): 5470
Atomic Radius (pm): 167
Atomic Volume (cc/mol): 13.6
Covalent Radius (pm): 144
Ionic Radius: 78 (+4e)
Pauling Negativity Number: 1.3
First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol): 575.2
Oxidation States: 4
Electronic Configuration: [Xe] 4f14 5d2 6s2

Getting Intimate with Hafnium:

Lattice Structure: Hexagonal (HEX)
Lattice Constant (Å): 3.200
Lattice C/A Ratio: 1.582
Specific Heat (@20°C J/g mol): 0.146
Fusion Heat (kJ/mol): (25.1)
Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol): 575
Thermal Conductivity (@25°C W/m K):
Debye Temperature (°K): n/a


Society's Questions About Hafnium:

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The following list shows the most common online questions about the element Hafnium. Are your questions the same or different from everyone else's?

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