72Hf178.49
Hafnium
Transition metalsHard, shiny metals that conduct heat and electricity well and often form coloured compounds.
[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d² 6s²
- Atomic number
- 72
- Atomic mass
- 178.49
- Protons
- 72
- Neutrons
- 106 (most common)
- Electrons
- 72
- Shells
- 2, 8, 18, 32, 10, 2
- State at 25 °C
- Solid
- Position
- Group 4, period 6
Proton (+)Neutron (0)Electron (−)
Discovered byDirk Coster and George de Hevesy, 1923Dirk Coster and George de Hevesy: 1 element
Found in Copenhagen and named after Hafnia, its Latin name.
Did you know?
- It is so similar to zirconium that they're very hard to separate.
- Modern processors use hafnium oxide in their transistors.
Where it's found
- Zircon, always alongside zirconium
What it's used for
- Nuclear control rods
- Computer chip transistors
Try it
There's no safe home experiment for Hafnium. Explore it with the animated atom above instead.