The Chemical Element Tungsten

1503 Words4 Pages

Tungsten
The chemical element tungsten, atomic number 74, is listed as a transition metal in group VIB on the Periodic Table of Elements. Tungsten was formerly known by the Germanic name Wolfram, after the tungsten mineral wolframite, hence its chemical symbol W. The name tungsten was derived from the Swedish words tung and sten, meaning heavy stone, because of its high density. Discovery of the element is credited to Spanish brothers Fausto Jermin and nobleman Juan Jose de Elhuyar in the early 1780s (1, 2).
Tungsten is a naturally occurring element that generally occurs as a chemical compound, mainly within ores of wolframite and scheelite, and very rarely in a pure form. Colors range from shiny white to steel-gray, depending on its purity (3). The metal is known for being extremely ductile and as a good conductor of heat and electricity. With the highest melting point, near 3422 degrees Celsius, and the lowest vapor pressure of all the metals, tungsten has a widespread variety of uses, from the mining industry to the healthcare field (2, 3).
Global consumption of tungsten consists primarily of cemented carbides, or hardmetals (2). As one of the hardest metals in the world, tungsten plays an instrumental role in cemented carbide tools and the drill bits used for oil and gas exploration, making it invaluable to the petroleum, mining, and metal-working industries. Tungsten carbide is also used to increase the wear-resistance of the cutting edge of tools as well as cast iron (1).
The metal’s hardness along with its great tensile strength and ability to withstand extremely high temperatures make it ideal for use in the filaments in incandescent light bulbs, cathode-ray tubes, X-ray tubes, vacuum tube filaments, and rocke...

... middle of paper ...

...sed by the British Geological Survey (4).
The high demand caused by increasingly widespread venues has resulted in a diminishing supply of tungsten, putting a strain on the world’s tungsten market. Although opening previously operational mines and searching for new mines will help supplement the supply of tungsten, it will still be several years before demand is met, as it is “typically a two-to-three year process for those mines currently extracting tungsten for export” (4).
Consequently, industries dependent on tungsten for operating are faces with the choice to either try to acquire a mine for their own use or work with current suppliers to achieve an equitable balance to meet demands. As purchasing a private operation is not feasible for the largest part of businesses, the only option appears to be encouraging current suppliers to meet their needs (4).

More about The Chemical Element Tungsten

Open Document