Cobalt Facts

Chemical Symbol: Co
Atomic Number: 27
Atomic Wt: 58.933200
Melting Point: 1768 K
Boiling Point: 3200 K
Density: 8.86 g/cm³
Phase at Room Temperature: Solid
Element Class.: Metal
Period Number: 4
Group Number: 9
Group Name: none
Pronunciation: KO-bolt

From the German word for goblin or evil spirit, kobald and the Greek word for mine, cobalos.

source: http://www.jlab.org/

What is Cobalt?

Burnished Cobalt Metal in the Drums

Cobalt is a hard ferromagnetic metallic element discovered by a Swedish chemist, Georg Brandt, in 1739. It is usually recovered as a by-product of mining/refining nickel, silver, lead, copper and iron.

Cobalt is resistant to stress and corrosion at high temperatures and is used in the following ways:

In the production of super alloys for the aerospace industry and industrial gas turbines
In the production of hard metals such as cemented carbides and diamond tooling for metal cutting
As a pigment in commercial and industrial ceramics and glass, inks, plastics and paints
In the production of magnets, chemicals and rechargeable batteries