Cobalt
🔵 In Your World
Cobalt is famous for the deep blue color it imparts to glass, ceramics, and pigments, known as cobalt blue. It is a key component in high-performance alloys used for jet engines and gas turbines. Cobalt is also essential for making powerful magnets and is a crucial component of rechargeable batteries. Biologically, it is the central atom in Vitamin B12, which is vital for human health.
📖 The Discovery Story
Cobalt compounds have been used for centuries to color glass, but the element itself was not isolated until around 1735 by Swedish chemist Georg Brandt. He showed that the blue color came from this new metal, not bismuth as was previously thought. The name "cobalt" comes from the German word kobold, meaning "goblin," as miners believed mischievous spirits were responsible for the troublesome, poisonous ores that polluted other metals.
📊 Properties at a Glance
| Phase at STP | Solid |
| Melting Point | 1495 °C / 2723 °F |
| Boiling Point | 2927 °C / 5301 °F |
| Electron Configuration | [Ar] 3d⁷4s² |
| Abundance in Earth's Crust | 0.003% |
⚠️ Safety & Handling
While cobalt is an essential trace element for humans as part of Vitamin B12, overexposure can be toxic. Inhaling cobalt dust is particularly harmful and can lead to serious lung problems, a condition known as "hard metal lung disease."