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A solution and solid state study of niobium complexes University of ...

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Chapter 2<br />

Significant difficulty is experienced in the industrial separation <strong>of</strong> <strong>niobium</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />

tantalum due to their similar chemical properties. The processes involved in the<br />

separation <strong>of</strong> the two metals are varied <strong>and</strong> complicated, <strong>and</strong> significant efforts to<br />

find methods which are both cost effective <strong>and</strong> deliver high purity products, have<br />

been made.<br />

2.1.1 Properties <strong>of</strong> Niobium<br />

Niobium is a steel-gray metal <strong>and</strong> when pure, it is a s<strong>of</strong>t <strong>and</strong> ductile metal, but<br />

impurities usually have a hardening <strong>and</strong> embrittling effect. Some <strong>of</strong> the more<br />

important properties <strong>of</strong> <strong>niobium</strong> <strong>and</strong> tantalum (group V metals) are summarized in<br />

Table 2.1. From the table it is apparent that there are a great number <strong>of</strong> similarities<br />

between the two metals. Niobium <strong>and</strong> tantalum are virtually identical in size as a<br />

consequence <strong>of</strong> the lanthanide contraction. The lanthanide contraction is the<br />

decrease in ionic radii <strong>of</strong> the elements in the lanthanide series from atomic number<br />

58 to 71. This results in smaller than expected ionic radii for the subsequent<br />

elements, starting with an atomic number <strong>of</strong> 72 (hafnium). The effect results from<br />

poor shielding <strong>of</strong> nuclear charge by 4f electrons.<br />

Table 2.1: Properties <strong>of</strong> <strong>niobium</strong> <strong>and</strong> tantalum. 4<br />

Property Niobium Tantalum<br />

Atomic number 41 73<br />

Natural occuring isotopes 1 2<br />

Atomic weight [g/mol] 92.906 180.948<br />

Electronegativity 1.6 1.5<br />

Electronic configuration [Kr]4d³5s² [Xe]4f¹⁴5d³6s²<br />

Metal radius (12-coordinate) [pm] 146 146<br />

Ionic radius (V) (6-coordinate) [pm] 64 64<br />

Melting point [°C] 2468 2980<br />

Boiling point [°C] 4758 5534<br />

Density (20°C) [g/cm³] 8.57 16.65<br />

Thermal-neutron-capture cross section<br />

[barns] 1.15 21<br />

4 F. A. Cotton, G. Wilkinson, C. A. Murillo, M. Bochmann, Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, Wiley <strong>and</strong> Sons, New<br />

York, 6, 895, 1999.<br />

5

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