Niobium
Atomic Number: 41
Niobium is the 41st element in the periodic table and it is part of the transition metals. It is a light grey, crystalline, and ductile transition metal. On the Mohs hardness scale, niobium is similar to titanium. This metal is often used in metal alloys including steel. It improves strength and has a high melting point. Though, niobium is a rare metal, hard to refine and highly resistant to chemical attack. Niobium is mostly found in Canada, Brazil, Nigeria, Zaire, and in Russia. Also, the ores which it is found in are niobite (or columbite), niobite-tantalite, parochlore, and euxenite. It is a by-product of mining for other minerals. In 1801, Charles Hatchett, an english chemist, discovered niobium.
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