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Element 27 - Cobalt (Co)
From
kobold
, or evil spirit (its poisonous ores were once treacherous to mine); discovered 1735. For centuries cobalt's blue salts have given color to porcelains, tiles and enamels. Its alloys go into making jet propulsion engines, and a radioactive isotope is used to treat cancer.
Properties
Atomic Number
:
27
Atomic Weight
:
58.9332
Electron Configuration
(at ground state):
1s
2
2s
2
2p
6
3s
2
3p
6
3d
7
4s
2
Oxidation States
(Bold most stable):
+2
, +3
Boiling Point
(K):
3143
Melting Point (K):
1768
Density
(at 300K -- g/cm
3
):
8.90
Atomic Volume (at 300K -- cm
3
/mol)
6.70
Number of stable
isotopes
:
1
Mass Number
(Bold naturally occurring) --
Half-Life
--
Disintigration Type
:
56 -- 78.8 days --
positron
emission, orbital
electron capture
57 -- 270 days -- orbital
electron capture
58 -- 71.3 days --
positron
emission, orbital
electron capture
60 -- 5.272 years --
beta particle
(
electron
) emission
Covalent Radius (Å):
1.16
Atomic Radius (Å):
1.25
First
Ionization Potential
(V):
7.86
Electronegativity
(Pauling's):
1.88
Specific Heat
Capacity (at 300K -- J g
-1
K
-1
):
0.421
Heat of Vaporization (kJ/mol):
373.3
Heat of Fusion (kJ/mol):
16.19
Electrical Conductivity (at 293K for polycrystalline material -- 10
6
-1
cm
-1
):
17.9
Thermal Conductivity (at 300K -- W m
-1
K
-1
):
100
Crystal Structure:
Hexagonal
Acid
-
Base
Properties:
Amphoteric