
Cobalt element (Co) is in group 9 and period 4 of a periodic table. Cobalt is in the d-block and it is classified as a transition element on the periodic table.
There is a lot more information related to cobalt which is mentioned in the Information Table given below.
So let’s dive right into it!
Table of contents
- Cobalt element (Information Table)
- Cobalt element in Periodic table
- Facts about Cobalt
- Properties of Cobalt
- Uses of Cobalt
Cobalt Element (Information Table)
The important data related to cobalt element is given in the table below.
Appearance of cobalt | Bluish shiny gray appearance |
Atomic number of cobalt | 27 |
Symbol of cobalt | Co |
Atomic mass of cobalt | 58.933 u |
Protons, Neutrons & Electrons in cobalt | Protons: 27, Neutrons: 32, Electrons: 27 |
State of cobalt (at STP) | Solid |
Group number of cobalt in periodic table | 9 |
Period number of cobalt in periodic table | 4 |
Block of cobalt in periodic table | d-block |
Category of cobalt | Transition metals |
Bohr model or Electrons per shell or Electrons arrangement in cobalt | 2, 8, 15, 2 |
Electron configuration of cobalt | [Ar] 3d7 4s2 |
Orbital diagram of cobalt | ![]() |
Electronegativity of cobalt (on pauling scale) | 1.88 |
Atomic radius of cobalt (van der Waals radius) | 192 picometers |
Density of cobalt | 8.9 g/cm3 |
1st ionization energy of cobalt | 7.881 eV |
Main isotope of cobalt | 59Co |
Melting point of cobalt | 1768 K or 1495 °C or 2723 °F |
Boiling point of cobalt | 3200 K or 2927 °C or 5301 °F |
Crystal structure of cobalt | Hexagonal Close Packing (HCP) |
Discovery of cobalt | By Georg Brandt in 1735 |
Also see: Interactive Periodic Table (It has rotating bohr models as well as many other details of all the 118 elements in a single periodic table).
Cobalt element in Periodic table
The Cobalt element (Co) has the atomic number 27 and is located in group 9 and period 4. Cobalt is a metal and it is classified as a transition element.
H | He | ||||||||||||||||
Li | Be | B | C | N | O | F | Ne | ||||||||||
Na | Mg | Al | Si | P | S | Cl | Ar | ||||||||||
K | Ca | Sc | Ti | V | Cr | Mn | Fe | Co | Ni | Cu | Zn | Ga | Ge | As | Se | Br | Kr |
Rb | Sr | Y | Zr | Nb | Mo | Tc | Ru | Rh | Pd | Ag | Cd | In | Sn | Sb | Te | I | Xe |
Cs | Ba | La* | Hf | Ta | W | Re | Os | Ir | Pt | Au | Hg | Tl | Pb | Bi | Po | At | Rn |
Fr | Ra | Ac** | Rf | Db | Sg | Bh | Hs | Mt | Ds | Rg | Cn | Nh | Fl | Mc | Lv | Ts | Og |
*Ce | Pr | Nd | Pm | Sm | Eu | Gd | Tb | Dy | Ho | Er | Tm | Yb | Lu | ||||
**Th | Pa | U | Np | Pu | Am | Cm | Bk | Cf | Es | Fm | Md | No | Lr |
Facts about cobalt
Here are a few interesting facts about cobalt element.
- The name “Cobalt” came from the German word “kobald” (which means “goblin”).
- The concentration of cobalt in the earth’s crust is around 25 ppm by weight.
- Cobalt is also present in the human body.
- 30% of cobalt is used in paints industries as well as ceramics industries.
- Cobalt is naturally magnetic like iron. Also the cobalt can maintain its magnetism at higher temperatures.
- Cobalt is obtained as a byproduct while mining copper and nickel.
- Cobalt is largely produced in Africa.
Properties of cobalt
Here is a list of some physical properties and chemical properties of cobalt.
Physical properties of cobalt
- Cobalt has a bluish-gray shiny metallic appearance.
- Cobalt has many isotopes, but the most abundant naturally occurring isotope of cobalt is 59Co.
- The density of cobalt is 8.9 g/cm3 and its atomic mass is 58.933 u.
- The melting point and boiling point of cobalt metal is 1768 K and 3200 K respectively.
Chemical properties of cobalt
- If cobalt is kept open in the air, it reacts with the atmospheric oxygen and forms cobalt oxide.
- Cobalt is a fairly reactive transition metal. It is not found in a free state in nature but it is always found as a compound with other elements in the earth’s crust.
- The electron configuration of cobalt is [Ar] 3d7 4s2, which shows that it has incompletely filled d-orbitals.
Uses of cobalt
Here are some uses of the cobalt element.
- Cobalt is used in manufacturing superalloys that have anticorrosive properties as well as they are stable to higher temperatures.
- Cobalt is used to make magnets for generators, drives, etc which operates at high temperatures. Because cobalt can retain its magnetism even at higher temperatures.
- Cobalt can give different colors when combined with other elements.
- Cobalt is used in manufacturing of inks, paints, and glass which requires blue coloring agent.
- Cobalt is used with other metals in making some engine parts of aircraft as cobalt can resist high temperatures.
- Cobalt is used in making rechargeable batteries.
- The radioactive isotope of cobalt (i.e 60Co) has medical applications to treat cancer tumors.
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