Hafnium

Symbol: Hf

Atomic Number: 72

Atomic Weight: 178.49

Hafnium (atomic number 72, symbol Hf) is a transitional metal and a chemical element, which chemically resembles zirconium. It is a silvery grey, lustrous, and ductile metal found in zirconium minerals. Hafnium is also corrosion resistant, but zirconium impurities affect its physical properties and its nuclear properties, in particular. Due to their chemical similarity, hafnium and zirconium are difficult to separate. Density is one difference between them, and the density of zirconium is around one-half that of hafnium. Other differences between zirconium and hafnium are their boiling points and melting points as well as their solubility in solvents. In terms...Read More