Tungsten in its pure form is a dense hard silvery metal. It has the atomic number 74. Of all chemical elements, tungsten has the second highest melting point (after carbon), the second highest boiling point (after rhenium) and the 8th highest density which is comparable to gold and uranium. It has a very low toxicity compared to other heavy metals and is considered less toxic than aluminium, tin or zinc.
- Atomic number: 74
- Atomic mass: 183.85 atomic mass units
- Physical appearance: Silver lustrous metal, solid
- Melting point: 3,140 degrees C (highest of all metals)
- Boiling point: 5,530 degrees C
- Density (20 degree C): 19.3 g/cm3
- Average abundance in the continental Earth crust: 1 ppm (= 1 g/t)
- Annual mine production: 72,990 t (2011; 85% from China)
- Annual consumption: 120,050 t (2011)
- Uses: Indispensable as a “hardmetal” (tungsten carbide) that is used for cutting and wear surfaces in applications such as metal machining, wood cutting, mineral and petroleum exploration drilling. Tungsten also has applications in hardening special steels, armaments, lighting, electronic and chemical industries.
Massive wolframite