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Origin / Meaning of the name Tungsten
Tungsten originates from
the Swedish words 'tung sten' meaning heavy stone. It was formerly
called Wolfram hence the symbol of the element - 'W'. From
the name meaning "wolf soot" was the name given to
tungsten Ancient alchemists called the metal "spuma lupi,"
the Latin words for 'wolf foam' which translated to the
word "wolframite" in allusion to the objectionable scum or
substance formed during the smelting of tin ores containing
tungsten.
Periodic Table Group and Classification of the of the Tungsten Element
Elements can be classified based on their physical states (States
of Matter) e.g. gas, solid or liquid. This element is a solid. Tungsten
is
classified as a "Transition Metal" which are located in Groups 3 -
12 of the Periodic Table. Elements classified as
Transition Metals are generally described as ductile, malleable, and able to conduct electricity and heat.Nearly 75%
of all the elements in the Periodic Table are classified as
metals which are detailed in the
List of Metals.
Facts about the History and the discovery of the Tungsten
Element
Tungsten was discovered by
the Spanish brothers Fausto and Juan Jose de Elhuyar
in 1783
History of the Periodic Table
Check out the brief
History of the
Periodic Table which details dates and the names of famous
scientists and chemists who contributed to the development of
the Periodic Table.
Occurrence of the Tungsten Element
Obtained from scheelite, wolframite
Abundances of the element in different environments
% in Universe
5×10-8%
% in Sun 4×10-7%
% in Meteorites 0.000012%
% in Earth's Crust 0.00011%
% in Oceans 1.2×10-8%
% in Humans N/A
Associated Uses of Tungsten
Space-age super-alloys
Light bulb filaments - fluorescent lighting
Cemented carbides (also called hardmetals)
Armaments
Jewelry - Tungsten Carbide |
