Cobalt

J ANICE STA B R O WNE – M S. TU R CK – DU E A PR IL 8 T H  

Periodic Table Information

• This element is a transition metal.

• Its atomic number is 27.
• Its atomic mass is 58.933, or 59 when rounded.
• A neutral atom of cobalt has 27 protons, 27 electrons, and 32
neutrons. 
• Its period number is 4.
• Its group number is 9.
 Physical and Chemical Properties

It is hard, brittle, but ductile and

The neutral element of Cobalt is a somewhat malleable depending
It has no odor. 
lustrous, silvery-blue/grey metal. on its form, and has a crystal-like
shape.

Melting point: 2,723 degrees Boiling point: 5,301 degrees

Phase at room temperature: Solid Fahrenheit (1,495 degrees Fahrenheit (2,927 degrees
Celsius) Celsius)

Cobalt is somewhat of a reactive

element. It combines with oxygen
Finely divided (powder form) in the air. Cobalt can react with
cobalt is flammable and may most acids to produce hydrogen
ignite spontaneously.  gas. However, cobalt does not
react with water that is at room
temperature. 
 • Discoverer: Georg Brandt.
• Place of discovery: Sweden.
• Date of discovery: 1735.
• Origin of name: from the German word "kobald" meaning
"goblin" or evil spirit.
• Minerals containing cobalt were of value to the early
civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia for coloring glass
The Discovery of deep blue.
• Cobalt was announced to be an element by Georg Brandt
Cobalt at about 1739. He had been trying to demonstrate that
the blue color of glass was because of a new element,
cobalt, rather than bismuth, an element often found in
the same locations as cobalt.
 Location of Cobalt and How It Is Obtained

• Cobalt is found in the minerals cobaltite,

skutterudite and erythrite. These are found
in DR Congo, Canada, Australia, Zambia
and Brazil. Most cobalt is formed as a by-
product of nickel refining and is obtained
by mining. Some small amounts or traces
of cobalt are present in all life, which
includes plants, animals, etc. 
• A huge reserve of several transition metals
(including cobalt) can be found in strange
bulges on the floors of the deepest oceans.
The bulges are types of minerals that take
millions of years to form, and together
they contain many tons of cobalt. A mining project in Brazil for cobalt. 
 Uses of Cobalt

Cobalt-60 is a radioactive
isotope. It is an important
Cobalt can be used to make
Other alloys of cobalt are Cobalt salts have been used Cobalt is needed for human, source of gamma-rays. It is
magnets and batteries. It is Cobalt salts can be given
used in jet turbines and gas for centuries to produce plant, and animal life in very widely used in
combined with aluminum to certain animals in small
turbine generators, where brilliant blue colors in paint, small amounts and forms cancer treatment, as a
and nickel to make doses to correct mineral
high-temperature strength is porcelain, glass, pottery and part of the active site of tracer and for
particularly powerful deficiencies. 
important. enamels. vitamin B12.  radiotherapy. In some
magnets.
countries, cobalt is used to
irradiate food to preserve it.

Why is Cobalt Hazardous?

Cobalt may also cause an

While a specific isotope of
cobalt can help treat cancer,
in large doses cobalt is
carcinogenic, which means
it can also cause cancer.
 Cobalt may cause a skin
allergy. A very low future
exposure to cobalt can
cause itching and a skin
rash.  of breath, and/or chest
Repeated exposure to
asthma-like allergy. A future
cobalt dust can cause lung
Cobalt may also cause exposure to cobalt may
Cobalt may affect the heart, scarring (fibrosis) even if no
irritation of the eyes, nose, cause asthma attacks with
thyroid, liver, and kidneys.  symptoms are noticed,
and throat.  wheezing, cough, shortness
which can be disabling or
fatal.
tightness. 
Works Cited
 https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/27/cobalt - "Cobalt – Element information,
properties and uses | Periodic Table"

 https://www.livescience.com/29275-cobalt.html - "Facts About Cobalt | Live Science"

 https://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/0520.pdf - COBALT.doc - "Hazardous

Substance Fact Sheet"

 https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Inorganic_Chemistry/Modules_and_Websites_(Inor
ganic_Chemistry)/Descriptive_Chemistry/Elements_Organized_by_Block/3_d-Block_Eleme
nts/Group_09%3A_Transition_Metals/Chemistry_of_Cobalt
 - "Chemistry of Cobalt - Chemistry LibreTexts"

 https://www.webelements.com/cobalt/history.html - "WebElements Periodic Table >>

Cobalt >> historical information"