| Origin of Name |
From the Swedish words tung sten, meaning heavy stone.
The symbol comes from the German word wolfram. |
| Date and Place of Discovery |
Discovered in 1781; isolated in 1783 |
| Discovered by |
Discovered by
Carl Wilhelm Scheele
Isolated by Fausto and Juan Jose de Elhuyar |
| Common Compounds |
|
| Interesting facts |
- It has the highest melting point of all the non-alloyed metals and the second highest of
the elements after carbon.
- It can be cut with a hacksaw in its pure state.
- It is very resistant to corrosion and is only attacked slight by most
mineral acids.
- It greatly increases the toughness of steel when alloyed with it.
|
| Common Uses |
- Metalworking
- Mining
- Petroleum
- Construction industry
- Light bulbs (wire filaments)
- Vacuum tubes
- Electrodes
- Thin wires
- Heavy metal alloys
- Heat sinks
- Darts
- Ammunition
- Turbine blades
- Radiation shields
- Catalysts
- Lubricants
- Glass to metal seals
- Integrated circuits
- Radiopharmaceuticals
- Nuclear medicines
- X-ray targets
- Electron microscopes
- Electrical contacts
- Ceramic glazes
- Strings for musical instruments
- Electrical furnaces
- Drill bits
|
