Cobalt

What is Cobalt?

Cobalt is a hard, lustrous, and brittle chemical element characterized as hard ferromagnetic. It shares the same characteristics as nickel and iron. Cobalt itself is active and forms various compounds. In the air, it remains stable, but can be affected by dilute acids. 

Where is Cobalt obtained?

The source of cobalt is the mineral cobaltite, erythrite, and skutterudite. The ore deposits used to obtain cobalt are found in Brazil, Zambia, Australia, Canada, and DR Congo. The majority of cobalt is formed as a byproduct of refining nickel, lead, silver, copper, and iron. It is important to note that cobalt does not exist as a free element. It is present in the crust of the earth. 

History of Cobalt

Cobalt was discovered in 1735 by a Swedish chemist by the name of George Brandt. He was able to successfully discover cobalt by isolating it and proved that it’s the one responsible for giving blue glass color, which was thought to be caused by bismuth. 

Classification, Properties, and Characteristics of Cobalt

Cobalt is a hard metal at room temperature. However, it is also brittle. It is characterized by bluish-white color. It is naturally magnetic, can be magnetized easily, and has the ability to maintain its ability to magnetize even at high temperatures. It is also somewhat reactive. When exposed to oxygen in the air, it gets slowly reactive. It also has the ability to form various compounds when combined with other elements.

Lewis Dot Structure of Cobalt

Bohr’s Atomic Model of Cobalt

Atomic Data of Cobalt 

Physical Properties of Cobalt

Color	Silvery blue/silvery white
Odor	Odorless
Taste	Tasteless
Atomic Mass	58.933
Weight	58.933194
Density	8.9 gram/cm3 at 20 °C (68 °F)
Atomic Radius	2.00 Å
Ionization Energy	760.402 kJ mol−1
Covalent Radius	1.18 Å
Ionic Radius	0.078 nm (+2) ; 0.063 nm (+3)
Electronic Gain Enthalpy	63.7 kJ/mol
Electron Negativity	1.88
Electron Affinity	63.873 kJ mol−1
Melting Point	1,495 °C (2,723 °F)
Boiling Point	2,870 °C (5,198 °F)

Chemical Properties of Cobalt

Atomic Number	27
Group	9
Period	4
Block	d
Electronic Configuration	[Ar]3d74s2
Combustion	Not combustible in solid form
Chemical Reactivity	Somewhat reactive
Valency of Element	3, 2

Different States of Cobalt

Cobalt is solid at room temperature. It exists with oxidation states that could range from -3 to +4, +2 and +3 are the most common oxidation states. 

Uses of Cobalt

• It is primarily used to make magnets. It can turn into powerful magnets by alloying it with nickel and aluminum.
• Cobalt alloys are used in industries that use high-temperature strength such as gas turbine generators and jet turbines.
• Cobalt metals play an important role in electroplating because of their attractive physical appearance. It is also hard and has the ability to resist corrosion.
• Cobalt has medical significance too. Cobalt-60 is used to treat some types of cancer.
• Radioactive cobalt-60 is used to preserve food.
• Cobalt salts are used to create a bright blue color in pottery products, enamels, porcelain, paint, cosmetics, and glass.
• In the body, cobalt is a vital trace element and serves as an active site for the B12 vitamin. The body only needs a small amount of cobalt.
• Mineral deficiencies in animals are corrected using a small dose of cobalt salts.
• Cobalt is used to create superalloys because of its ability to resist corrosion and remains stale despite extremely high temperatures.
• Cobalt is used to make batteries.
• Cobalt is one of the components used in making samarium-cobalt permanent magnets, which are used for making high-speed motors and guitar pickups.

Price of Cobalt

The cost of cobalt is dependent on supply and demand. Pure cobalt costs around $21 per 100 grams. For bulk orders, the cost is lower, which is usually around $4.40 per 100 grams. 

Interesting facts about Cobalt

• Don’t you know that cobalt was the first metal to be discovered and the first ever metal to be known with a discovery?
• Don’t you know that an imbalance of cobalt, meaning too much or too little can have a detrimental effect on the body?
• Cobalt has agricultural significance. A small amount of cobalt is used as a fertilizer.
• The majority of cobalt in the United States came from other countries.
• Don’t you know cobalt came from German miners? It was named after Kobalds.
• The bright blue color of cobalt was attributed to bismuth. One of the components of cobalt is bismuth and many don’t believe it until it was proved by a Swedish chemist, Georg Brandt.
• A strong source of gamma radiation is isotope Co-60.
• Don’t you know that cobalt is the main atom in the B12 vitamins?
• Don’t you know that cobalt is ferromagnetic, which means that it has the ability to retain its magnetic characteristic even at extremely high temperatures?
• Cobalt has a total of six oxidation states, but the most common of these six are +2 and +3.
• The estimated amount of cobalt in seawater is 2 x 10-5 mg/L.
• Don’t you know that Egypt has the oldest cobalt-colored glass? It was discovered in 1550-1292 B. C.
• The estimated amount of cobalt in the earth’s crust is around 25 mg/kg.

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1. https://www.britannica.com/science/cobalt-chemical-element
2. https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/27/cobalt
3. https://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/co.htm
4. https://www.livescience.com/29275-cobalt.html
5. https://www.ducksters.com/science/chemistry/cobalt.php
6. https://www.chemicool.com/elements/cobalt.html
7. https://www.thoughtco.com/cobalt-element-facts-606520
8. https://study.com/learn/lesson/cobalt-co-element-facts-properties-uses.html
9. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/element/Cobalt
10. https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele027.html