niobium

[ nahy-oh-bee-uhm ]

nounChemistry.
  1. a steel-gray metallic element resembling tantalum in its chemical properties; becomes a superconductor below 9 K; used chiefly in alloy steels. Symbol: Nb; atomic number: 41; atomic weight: 92.906; specific gravity: 8.4 at 20°C.

Origin of niobium

1
From New Latin, dating back to 1835–45; see origin at Niobe, -ium

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British Dictionary definitions for niobium

niobium

/ (naɪˈəʊbɪəm) /


noun
  1. a ductile white superconductive metallic element that occurs principally in columbite and tantalite: used in steel alloys. Symbol: Nb; atomic no: 41; atomic wt: 92.90638; valency: 2, 3, or 5; relative density: 8.57; melting pt: 2469±10°C; boiling pt: 4744°C: Former name: columbium

Origin of niobium

1
C19: from New Latin, from Niobe (daughter of Tantalus), so named because it occurred in tantalite

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for niobium

niobium

[ nī-ōbē-əm ]


Nb
  1. A soft, silvery, ductile metallic element that usually occurs in nature together with the element tantalum. It is used to build nuclear reactors, to make steel alloys, and to allow magnets to conduct electricity with almost no resistance. Atomic number 41; atomic weight 92.906; melting point 2,468°C; boiling point 4,927°C; specific gravity 8.57; valence 2, 3, 5. See Periodic Table.

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