Hafnium (Hf)

Hafnium (Hf)

Interior of nuclear reactor containment dome

Atomic Number: 72
Atomic Weight: 178.49
Melting Point: 2150
Boiling Point: 5400
Specific Gravity: 13.29
Valence(s): 4

Coster and Von Hevesey discovered Hafnium in 1923. Found in combination with Zirconium, Hafnium is used for reactor control rods found inside the nuclear reactor containment dome shown here. Hafnium is used in gas-filled and incandescent lamps and is named after Hafnia, Latin for Copenhagen, where it was found. [LM] {RW}