Quick answerHafnium (Hf) is a transition metal with atomic number 72 and an atomic mass of 178.49 (2023), in group 4, period 6. It was discovered by Dirk Coster and George de Hevesy in 1923. It is used for nuclear control rods and computer chip transistors. Its electron configuration is [Xe] 4f14 5d2 6s2.
Hafnium is the metal that controls nuclear reactors and builds the transistors inside modern computer chips.
Key facts
| Symbol | Hf |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 72 |
| Atomic mass | 178.49 (IUPAC standard atomic weight, 2023) |
| Category | transition metal |
| Group | 4 |
| Period | 6 |
| Block | d-block |
| Electron configuration | [Xe] 4f14 5d2 6s2 |
| Discovered | Dirk Coster and George de Hevesy, 1923 |
| Uses | nuclear control rods, computer chip transistors, superalloys, plasma cutting, photography flashes |
Quick quiz
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Keep exploring
- Periodic table — all 118 elements
- Silver (Ag) — another transition metal, atomic number 47
- Cadmium (Cd) — another transition metal, atomic number 48
- Tantalum (Ta) — another transition metal, atomic number 73
- Tungsten (W) — another transition metal, atomic number 74
- Rhenium (Re) — another transition metal, atomic number 75
- Osmium (Os) — another transition metal, atomic number 76
- Iridium (Ir) — another transition metal, atomic number 77
- Platinum (Pt) — another transition metal, atomic number 78
- Gold (Au) — another transition metal, atomic number 79
- Mercury (Hg) — another transition metal, atomic number 80
- All transition metal elements — on the periodic table
Sources & last updated
- CIAAW — Standard Atomic Weights
- PubChem Periodic Table
- Wikipedia — Timeline of chemical element discoveries
- Wikipedia — Hafnium
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.