Wikijunior:The Elements/Tungsten

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[edit] What does it look, feel, taste, or smell like?

Tungsten is a heavy metal that can be from grey to white. Tungsten in its pure form is soft enough to cut with a hacksaw. Tungsten carbide is extremely hard and it is very difficult to cut.

[edit] How was it discovered?

In 1783, two Spanish Chemists, the de Elhujar brothers, were the first to isolate pure Tungsten metal. Tungsten was originally found in the mineral wolframite.

[edit] Where did its name come from?

Tungsten gets its name from the Spanish word tung sten which means "heavy stone". The "W" in its symbol stands for wolfram, Tungsten's German name.

[edit] Where is Tungsten found?

Tungsten is found in certain minerals including wolframite ((Fe, Mn)WO₄) and scheelite (CaWO₄). Most of the world's tungsten, about 75%, comes from China. Other major deposits of Tungsten can be found in California, Colorado, South Korea, Bolivia, Russia and Portugal.

[edit] What are its uses?

Tungsten is used in incandescent light bulb filaments as the source of light. It is also used in fluorescent light bulbs, television tubes, and x-ray production.

Tungsten is combined with carbon to make tungsten carbide (WC) which is used to make the tips of drill bits, high speed cutting instruments and mining machinery

[edit] Is it dangerous?

When electric current is passing through it, Tungsten can get very hot and could cause a burn.

[edit] References