Niobium
Niobio (Nb, Z=41)
- Date
- 1801 · confidence high
- Place
- London, United Kingdom
- Credited to
- Charles Hatchett
- People
- 👤 Charles Hatchett1765–1847
- Field
- Matter & energy
⚠️ Disputed: the sources disagree.
What was discovered
Hatchett found a new metal (columbium) in a mineral from Connecticut held at the British Museum; its confusion with tantalum lasted until Rose (1844) and Marignac (1864) separated them.
The columbium/niobium dispute: IUPAC adopted 'niobium' in 1949; in the United States 'columbium' was used for decades.
What it led to
- Niobium-titanium superconductors for MRI magnets and the LHC
- Microalloyed steels for gas pipelines
- Alloys for jet engines
Built on
- British Museum mineral collection
- Wet-method analysis
Made possible
- Nb-Ti superconducting magnet
- Niobium radiofrequency cavities