cobalt

[koh-bawlt]

noun

1. a silver-white metallic element with a faint pinkish tinge, occurring in compounds whose silicates afford important blue coloring substances for ceramics. Co; 58.933; 27; 8.9 at 20°C.

cobalt

/ ˈkəʊbɔːlt /

noun

1. a brittle hard silvery-white element that is a ferromagnetic metal: occurs principally in cobaltite and smaltite and is widely used in alloys. The radioisotope cobalt-60 , with a half-life of 5.3 years, is used in radiotherapy and as a tracer. Symbol: Co; atomic no: 27; atomic wt: 58.93320; valency: 2 or 3; relative density: 8.9; melting pt: 1495°C; boiling pt: 2928°C

cobalt

1. A silvery-white, hard, brittle metallic element that occurs widely in metal ores. It is used to make magnetic alloys, heat-resistant alloys, and blue pigment for ceramics and glass. Atomic number 27; atomic weight 58.9332; melting point 1,495°C; boiling point 2,900°C; specific gravity 8.9; valence 2, 3.

2. See Periodic Table

Word History and Origins

Origin of cobalt¹

1675–85; < German Kobalt, variant of Kobold kobold

Word History and Origins

Origin of cobalt¹

C17: German Kobalt, from Middle High German kobolt goblin; from the miners' belief that malicious goblins placed it in the silver ore

Example Sentences

Some liken it to the grip China enjoys today over cobalt production in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A bridge collapsed at a cobalt mine in southeast Democratic Republic of Congo killing at least 32 wildcat miners, a regional government official said Sunday.

Read more on Barron's

Despite its vast natural resources, which include gold, diamonds, uranium, cobalt and copper, the DRC ranks among the world's poorest countries.

Read more on Barron's

Zambia’s central bank cut its key lending rate for the first time in more than five years, citing slowing inflation in Africa’s second-biggest copper and cobalt producer.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The African continent is rich in critical minerals and metals - like lithium, rare earths, cobalt and tungsten - which are vital to making and running our personal tech.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• blue-green