What is the name of the element with Z=41? 6. What is the symbol of the element with Z=41 (use isotope symbol notation)? 7. What is the atomic weight of the element with Z=41?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
- The element with atomic number Z=41Z = 41Z=41 is niobium.
- The symbol of niobium, in isotope notation, is typically written as 93Nb^{93}\text{Nb}93Nb for the most stable isotope, niobium-93. The isotope symbol includes the mass number (93) and the chemical symbol (Nb) for niobium.
- The atomic weight of niobium is approximately 92.91 u. Atomic weight is a weighted average of the mass numbers of all naturally occurring isotopes of the element, taking into account their relative abundance. For niobium, the most abundant isotope is 93Nb^{93}\text{Nb}93Nb, but there are also trace amounts of the isotope 92Nb^{92}\text{Nb}92Nb, which is radioactive.
Explanation:
Niobium (Nb) is a transition metal found in group 5 of the periodic table, and it plays a key role in various industrial applications, especially in the production of high-strength alloys. The element was first discovered in 1801 by Charles Hatchett and was initially named “columbium” after Christopher Columbus. However, it was later officially renamed niobium.
Niobium is used in the aerospace and electronics industries due to its high melting point, strength, and resistance to corrosion. Its atomic weight (92.91 u) reflects the combination of its naturally occurring isotopes, primarily niobium-93, with a small contribution from niobium-92.
The isotope 93Nb^{93}\text{Nb}93Nb is stable, while 92Nb^{92}\text{Nb}92Nb is radioactive, decaying into zirconium-92 via beta decay. This explains why the atomic weight is slightly less than 93, since 93Nb^{93}\text{Nb}93Nb is more abundant.
