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Periodic Table of Elements

Element Cobalt - Co

Comprehensive data on the chemical element Cobalt is provided on this page; including scores of properties, element names in many languages, most known nuclides of Cobalt. Common chemical compounds are also provided for many elements. In addition technical terms are linked to their definitions and the menu contains links to related articles that are a great aid in one's studies.

Cobalt Menu

Overview of Cobalt

Cobalt's Name in Other Languages

  • Latin: Cobaltum
  • Czech: Kobalt
  • Croatian: Kobalt
  • French: Cobalt
  • German: Kobalt - r
  • Italian: Cobalto
  • Norwegian: Kobolt
  • Portuguese: Cobalto
  • Russian: Кобальт
  • Spanish: Cobalto
  • Swedish: Kobolt

Atomic Structure of Cobalt

Chemical Properties of Cobalt

Physical Properties of Cobalt

  • Atomic Mass Average: 58.9332
  • Boiling Point: 3143K 2870°C 5198°F
  • Coefficient of lineal thermal expansion/K-1: 13.36E-6
  • Conductivity
    Electrical: 0.172 106/cm Ω
    Thermal: 1 W/cmK
  • Density: 8.9g/cc @ 300K
  • Description:
    Tough silver-white transition metal.
  • Elastic Modulus:
    • Bulk: 181.5/GPa
    • Rigidity: 82/GPa
    • Youngs: 211/GPa
  • Enthalpy of Atomization: 26.8 kJ/mole @ 25°C
  • Enthalpy of Fusion: 15.23 kJ/mole
  • Enthalpy of Vaporization: 382.4 kJ/mole
  • Flammablity Class: Non-combustible solid (except as dust)
  • Freezing Point: see melting point
  • Hardness Scale
    • Brinell: 700 MN m-2
    • Mohs: 5
    • Vickers: 1043 MN m-2
  • Heat of Vaporization: 376.5kJ/mol
  • Melting Point: 1768K 1495°C 2723°F
  • Molar Volume: 6.61 cm3/mole
  • Optical Reflectivity: 67%
  • Physical State (at 20°C & 1atm): Solid
  • Specific Heat: 0.42J/gK
  • Vapor Pressure = 175Pa@1495°C

Regulatory / Health

  • CAS Number
    • 7440-48-4
  • RTECS: GF8750000
  • OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
  • OSHA PEL Vacated 1989
    • TWA: 0.05 mg/m3
  • NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)
  • Routes of Exposure: Inhalation; Ingestion; Skin and/or eye contact
  • Target Organs: Skin, respiratory system
  • Levels In Humans:
    Note: this data represents naturally occuring levels of elements in the typical human, it DOES NOT represent recommended daily allowances.
    • Blood/mg dm-3: 0.0002-0.04
    • Bone/p.p.m: 0.01-0.04
    • Liver/p.p.m: 0.06-1.1
    • Muscle/p.p.m: 0.028-0.65
    • Daily Dietary Intake: 0.005-1.8 mg
    • Total Mass In Avg. 70kg human: 3 mg

Who / Where / When / How

  • Discoverer: George Brandt
  • Discovery Location: Stockholm Sweden
  • Discovery Year: 1735
  • Name Origin:
    German: kobalt or kobold (evil spirit); Greek: cobalos (mines).
  • Abundance of Cobalt:
    • Earth's Crust/p.p.m.: 20
    • Seawater/p.p.m.:
      • Atlantic Suface: N/A
      • Atlantic Deep: N/A
      • Pacific Surface: 0.0000069
      • Pacific Deep: 0.0000011
    • Atmosphere/p.p.m.: N/A
    • Sun (Relative to H=1E12): 79400
  • Sources of Cobalt:
    Occurs in compounds with arsenic, oxygen and sulfur as in cobaltine (CoAsS) and linneite (Co3S4). Annual world production is around 17,000 tons. Primary mining areas are in Zaire, Morocco, Sweden and Canada.
  • Uses of Cobalt:
    Used in many hard alloys; for magnets, ceramics and special glasses. Also used in permanent magnets, razor blades and catalitic converters. Cobalt-60 is used in cancer therapy.
  • Additional Notes:

Cobalt Menu

References

A list of reference sources used to compile the data provided on our periodic table of elements can be found on the main periodic table page.

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