What is Hafnium?

Hello and welcome back!

This week, we’re going to look at the mysterious and uncommon element – Hafnium!

Here are some fun facts about this lustrous, silver-gray transition metal from the periodic table (atomic number 72):

Discovered in 1923, named after the Latin word for Copenhagen “Hafnia”
This element is used in the nuclear power industry and some electronic equipment
Rarely found natural in well…nature! Instead, it is present in zirconium minerals
When it IS in nature, it is the 45^th most abundance element in the Earth’s crust!
When chemically combined with carbon, it’s melting point is then over 7,000 degrees Fahrenheit!
This element is also pyrophoric – meaning it ignites spontaneously when in powder form!