Tungsten
Definition and meaning of Tungsten in chemistry.
Tungsten is a chemical element with the symbol W and atomic number 74. It is a dense, steel-gray transition metal renowned globally for possessing the absolute highest melting point of all known unalloyed metals.
In more detail
Tungsten exhibits extraordinary tensile strength and incredible physical durability, particularly when alloyed with other elements or combined with carbon to form the exceptionally hard ceramic compound tungsten carbide. It is primarily extracted from the widespread minerals wolframite and scheelite through a multi-step chemical reduction process that ultimately yields a pure metallic powder. At standard room temperature, bulk tungsten is remarkably resistant to aggressive chemical attack and does not react readily with water, oxygen, or most standard acids. Situated prominently in group 6 of the periodic table, tungsten displays a highly diverse range of oxidation states from -2 to +6, with the +6 state being the most common and chemically stable, as clearly seen in tungsten trioxide (WO3). Its extreme physical density, which is comparable to that of gold, and its unyielding high-temperature stability make it indispensable in demanding aerospace components and heavy industrial drilling applications.
Key facts
| Field | General Chemistry |
|---|---|
| Symbol | W |
| Atomic number | 74 |
| Atomic mass | 183.84 u |
| Category | Transition Metal |
| State at room temperature | Solid |
| Melting point | 3422 °C |
| Discovered by | Carl Wilhelm Scheele |
| Discovery year | 1781 |
Tungsten is famously and historically used as the primary glowing filament material in traditional incandescent light bulbs because it can easily reach white-hot temperatures without melting or structurally failing.
Frequently asked questions
Why does tungsten have the chemical symbol W when its name starts with T?
The chemical symbol W comes from "wolfram," which is an older, alternative Germanic name for the element derived directly from its primary ore mineral, wolframite.
What specific properties make tungsten carbide so useful for heavy industry?
Tungsten carbide is incredibly hard and remarkably heat-resistant, nearly matching the physical hardness of diamond, which makes it absolutely ideal for heavy-duty cutting tools, drill bits, and industrial machining equipment.