74
W
Tungsten
184

Tungsten (W)

Transition MetalGroup 6Period 6d-block-block

Tungsten, also known as wolfram, is a chemical element with symbol W and atomic number 74. The word tungsten comes from the Swedish language tung sten, which directly translates to heavy stone. Its name in Swedish is volfram, however, in order to distinguish it from scheelite, which in Swedish is alternatively named tungsten.

Latin name: Wolfram

Atomic Number
74
Atomic Mass
184 g/mol
Phase (STP)
Solid
Electron Config.
[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d⁴ 6s²

General

SymbolW
Atomic Number74
Atomic Mass184 g/mol
CategoryTransition Metal
Group6
Period6
Blockd-block
Electron Configuration[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d⁴ 6s²
Valence Electrons6
Colourgrayish-white metallic
Appearancegrayish white, lustrous
CAS NumberCAS7440-33-7

Physical Properties

Phase (STP)Solid
Density19.25 g/cm³
Melting Point3421.85°C · 6191.33°F · 3695.00 K
Boiling Point5554.85°C · 10030.73°F · 5828.00 K

Atomic Properties

Atomic Radius210 pm
Electronegativity2.36 Pauling
Ionization Energy770 kJ/mol
Oxidation States+6, +5, +4, +3, +2
Ion ChargeW2+/W3+/W4+/W5+/W6+

Thermodynamic

Molar Heat24.27 J/(mol·K)

Crystal Structure

Crystal Structurebody-centered cubic

Mechanical Properties

Mohs Hardness7.5

Nuclear & Hazards

Half-lifestable

Abundance

In Universe0.000008%
In Sun0.000006%
In Earth's Crust0.0110%

Discovery & History

Discovery Year1783
Discovered ByJuan José and Fausto del Río (isolation) / Carl Wilhelm Scheele (oxide studies)
Country of DiscoverySpain/Sweden

Isotopes of Tungsten

IsotopeAbundanceHalf-lifeDecay
W-1800.12%1.8 × 10¹⁸ yearsα
W-18226.5%Stable
W-18314.31%Stable
W-18430.64%Stable
W-18628.43%Stable

External References

← 73 Tantalum75 Rhenium →