What is Tungsten

Tungsten (pronunciation TUNG-sten ^[2]), represented by the chemical symbol or formula W ^[1], is a hard, brittle element belonging to the family of transition metals [3]. Naturally occurring W is a mixture of 5 isotopes with mass numbers 180, 182, 183, 184 and 186 ^{[1, 3]}. Besides that, it has 33 synthetic, radioactive isotopes with known half-lives ^[3]. It doesn’t react with water and oxygen (air) at room temperature. In red hot condition, it forms its oxide. It reacts with halogens but remains unaffected by most acids and bases ^[9].

Where Is It Found

The metal does not occur freely in nature. Its principal ores are wolframite and scheelite. Commercially, it is produced by reducing tungsten oxide with carbon or hydrogen ^[1]. It is mined in China (world’s leading producer), Austria, Portugal and Bolivia ^[21].

History

Origin of Its Name: Its name is derived from the Swedish words “tung sten” meaning heavy stone ^[1]. The origin of its chemical symbol is its earlier German name, Wolfram that is derived from the mineral wolframite from which it was first extracted ^[2].

Who Discovered Tungsten: Spanish chemist brothers, Juan and Fausto Elhuyar ^{[1, 2]}.

When Was It Discovered: Its discovery year is 1783 ^[1].

How Was It Discovered

In 1779, Irish chemist Peter Woulfe investigated a mineral from Sweden and concluded that it contained a new metal but did not isolate it. In 1781, German-Swedish chemist Wilhelm Scheele examined it and separated an acidic white oxide from it which he observed to be an oxide of a new metal. Finally, in 1783 the Elhuyar brothers successfully reduced the oxidze to metallic tungsten by heating it with carbon at the Seminary at Vergara, in Spain ^{[1, 3]}.

Tungsten Identification
Atomic Number	74 [1]
CAS Number	7440-33-7 [1]
Position in the periodic table	Group	Period	Block
	6 [1]	6 [1]	d [1]

Properties and Characteristics of Tungsten

General Properties
Atomic mass		183.84  atomic mass units [1]
Atomic weight		183.84 [1]
Mass number		184 [3]
Molar mass/molecular weight		183.84 g/mol [14]
Physical Properties
Color/appearance		Silvery-white [3]
Luster		Metallic [3]
Melting point/freezing point		3414°C, 6177°F [1]
Boiling point		5555°C, 10031°F [1]
Density		19.3 g cm-3 [1]
State of matter at room temperature (normal phase)		Solid [1]
Thermal Conductivity		164 W/(m K) [17]
Electrical Conductivity		18X106[1/ohm-m)] [17]
Specific heat capacity		0.134 J/g K [16]
Specific gravity		19.25 [18]
Resistivity		5.60X10-8 ohm-m [13]
Hardness (Mohs scale)		7.5 [27]
Ductility		Limited/nil [19]
Malleability		Yes [22]
Yield strength		550 MPa [24]
Tensile strength		100,000 – 500,000 psi [25]
Temperature coefficient		0.0045 [26]
Chemical Properties
Oxidation state/Oxidation number		−2, −1, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5, +6 [1]
Flammability		Yes (W powder) [20]
Magnetic Properties
Magnetic ordering	Paramagnetic [11]

Atomic Data of Tungsten (Element 74)

Tungsten Uses

1. As filaments in old style of incandescent electric bulbs. They are not much used these days as they are not energy efficient ^[1].
2. It is alloyed with other metals or steel for strengthening them. The metal and its alloys have many high-temperature applications such as heating elements in high-temperature furnaces, arc-welding electrodes, etc ^[1].
3. Tungsten carbide being massively hard is important to the mining, metal-working and petroleum industries. It also makes excellent drilling and cutting tools ^[1].
4. Fluorescent lighting widely uses magnesium and calcium tungstates ^[1].
5. Making jewelry and fishing equipment ^{[12, 29]}.

Is It Dangerous

Though the element is considered to be of low toxicity to humans, inhaling hazardous W dust may lead to chronic poisoning that may result in pulmonary fibrosis ^{[3, 10]}. Exposure may also pose a risk of allergy ^[20].

Interesting Facts

• Tungsten is the metal which has the highest melting point ^[1].
• It is the strongest metal for its highest tensile strength ^[23].
• It does not rust, tarnish and is scratch resistant ^[15]!

Tungsten (W Element) Cost

The pure metal is priced at $11 for every 100 gram and in bulk, the same quantity costs $2.95 ^[3].

References
1. http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/74/tungsten
2. https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele074.html
3. https://www.chemicool.com/elements/tungsten.html
4. http://periodictable.com/Properties/A/Valence.al.html
5. http://chemistry-reference.com/q_elements.asp?Symbol=W&language=en
6. https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-valence-or-valency-606459
7. https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-valence-or-valency-606459
8. https://www.webelements.com/tungsten/crystal_structure.html
9. Tungsten.com
10. https://patient.info/doctor/tungsten-poisoning
11. https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/102463/is-it-possible-to-detect-fake-tungsten-aka-wolfram-gold-bars-with-a-strong-magne
12. https://www.larsonjewelers.com/
13. https://hypertextbook.com/facts/2004/DeannaStewart.shtml
14. http://www.noblemind.com/search.exe?keyword=Tungsten+Molar+Mass&var=2
15. https://www.overstock.com/guides/tungsten-rings-fact-sheet/
16. http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Tables/sphtt.html
17. https://www.plansee.com/en/materials/tungsten.html
18. https://www.reade.com/reade-resources/reference-educational/reade-reference-chart-particle-property-briefings/25-specific-gravity-table-metals-minerals-ceramics-substance
19. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921509317312704
20. nj.gov
21. https://mineralseducationcoalition.org/elements/tungsten/
22. https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-tungsten-definition-properties-uses.html
23. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-strongest-hardest-metals-mike-m-/
24. http://www.goodfellow.com/E/Tungsten.html
25. https://www.tungsten.com/materials/tungsten/
26. http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Tables/rstiv.html
27. https://www.jewelrynotes.com/the-mohs-scale-of-hardness-for-metals-why-it-is-important/
28. http://periodictable.com/Properties/A/LatticeConstants.html
29. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Tungsten_Bullet_Weights/catpage-TTTB.html