A Visual Encyclopedia of the Periodic Table

64

Transition Metals

Forms

Medieval German miners often mistook

ores of cobalt for precious metals. When

they tried to purify these, the arsenic gas

released made them sick. This unwanted

side-effect led to the name kobold, which

is German for “goblin”, a mischievous spirit.

Pure cobalt is hard and shiny, and is

added to steel and other alloys to make

them stronger. Alloys containing cobalt

are used in the blades of jet engines and

in artificial joints, such as hip and knee

joints. Cobalt is one of the few elements

Cobalt 27 27 32 State: SolidDiscovery: 1739

Co

27

The distinctive purplish

colour gives it the

nickname “red cobalt”.

These cubic cr ystals

contain a sulfur

compound of cobalt.

This silver y

mineral smells

like garlic when

crushed due to

the presence

of arsenic.

This shiny metal

is fairly hard.

Cobalt

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064-065_Cobalt.indd 64 02/12/16 9:59 pm