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    Nb

    Niobium

    Transition Metal

    Atomic Number: 41 • Atomic Mass: 92.9060 u • Period: 5 • Group: 5

    Electron Configuration: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s¹ 4d⁴
    Phase: Solid
    Electronegativity: 1.6
    Zirconium (Zr)Molybdenum (Mo)
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    Physical & Chemical Properties

    Physical Properties

    • •Shiny, white, soft, and ductile metal
    • •High melting point (2750 K or 2477°C)
    • •Good conductor of heat and electricity
    • •Superconducting at low temperatures
    • •Excellent corrosion resistance
    Melting Point

    2750 K (2476.85 °C, 4490.33 °F)

    Boiling Point

    5017 K (4743.85 °C, 8570.93 °F)

    Density

    8.57 g/cm³

    Electronegativity

    1.6 (Pauling scale)

    Chemical Properties

    • •Forms passivation layer of niobium pentoxide in air
    • •Most common oxidation state is +5, but states from +5 to -1 exist
    • •Resistant to attack by most acids
    • •Dissolves in hydrofluoric acid and hot concentrated alkalies
    • •Forms numerous complex compounds

    Electron Configuration

    1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s¹ 4d⁴

    Electron configuration describes how electrons are distributed in atomic orbitals, showing how they are arranged in energy levels and subshells.