What is Niobium?
[[File:Niobium metal.jpg|thumb|A sheet of niobium]] '''Niobium''' is a [[chemical element]]. It is sometimes named '''columbium'''. It has the chemical symbol '''Nb'''. It has the [[atomic number]] 41. It is a [[wikt:rare|rare]] [[metal]]. Niobium is hard and grey. It is [[wikt:ductile|ductile]]. In chemistry it is placed in a group of metal elements named the [[transition metal]]s. Niobium was discovered in a variety of a [[mineral]] called columbite (now called [[niobite]]). Niobite is an [[ore]] of niobium.<ref>G.V. Samsonov {ed) 1968. Mechanical properties of the elements. In ''Handbook of the physicochemical properties of the elements''. New York, USA: IFI-Plenum. ISBN 978-1-4684-6066-7</ref> Niobium is considered a ''technology-critical element''. It is used in [[alloy]]s, such as to make special [[steel]]s and strong [[Welding|welded joints]]. Less than 0.1% of Niobium significantly improves the strength of [[steel]].<ref>Patel, Zh. & Khul'ka K. 2001. ''Niobium for steelmaking''. ''Metallurgist''. '''45''' (11–12): 477–480.</ref> It is in the [[superconduction|superconducting]] [[alloy]]s used in [[MRI]] scanners, which are one of the most important [[medical]] [[inventions]] of the modern age. == References == {{reflist}} {{-}} {{Periodic Table}} {{chem-stub}} {{authority control}} [[Category:Transition metals]]