The Tough
Element
Tungsten has the highest melting
point of any metal.
Tungsten also has the lowest vapor
pressure (at temperatures above
3000* F, or 1650* C)
Tungsten is occasionally used as a
substitute for gold.
Tungsten has the highest tensile
strength of any metal, yet is brittle
and prone to shattering.
Tungsten is soft enough to be cut
with a hacksaw.
Random Facts
Tungsten is typically found in the
minerals scheelite and wolfmanrite
It is known as the Free Element,
and has a melitng point of 3,422 °C
(6,192 °F; 3,695 K). It also has a
boiling point of 5,930 °C (10,706 °F;
6,203 K)
Tungsten density: 19.28 g/cm³
Tungsten’s abundance in the
earth’s crust: 1.25 (0.000125%)
Group 6, Period 6, 6 valence
electrons to bond well with other
elements.
Tungsten
Element 74

Where to
Find Tungsten
Most of tungsten in the world is
faound in alloys, as tungsten has a
very high melting point (the highest
of all metals), and is used to support
the other metals.
Uses of The
Heavy Stone
Element
Tungsten was used extensively for
the filaments of old-style
incandescent light bulbs, but these
have been phased out in many
countries. This is because they are
not very energy efficient; they
produce much more heat than light.

Tungsten has the highest melting

point of all metals and is alloyed
with other metals to strengthen
them. Tungsten and its alloys are
used in many high-temperature
applications, such as arc-welding
electrodes and heating elements in
high-temperature furnaces.
Tungsten carbide is immensely hard
Tungsten was discovered by Juan
and is very important to the metal-
working, mining and petroleum José and Fausto Elhuyar, Spanish
industries. It is made by mixing chemists and brothers, in 1783 in
tungsten powder and carbon samples of the mineral wolframite
powder and heating to 2200°C. It
((Fe, Mn)WO 4 ).
makes excellent cutting and drilling
tools, including a new ‘painless’ The name Tungsten is derived from
dental drill which spins at ultra-high the old Swedish name for 'heavy
Electrodes speeds. stone.'
Lightbulb filaments 6+
Heating Fixtures Tungsten forms a Cation (W )
Calcium and magnesium tungstates
are widely used in fluorescent
lighting.