Quick Facts
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Symbol | W |
| Atomic Number | 74 |
| Atomic Mass | 183.84 u |
| Category | Transition Metal |
| Period | 6 |
| Group | 6 |
| Block | d |
| Electron Configuration | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d⁴ 6s² |
Physical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| State at 20°C | Solid |
| Density | 19.25 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 3422°C (3695 K) |
| Boiling Point | 5930°C (6203 K) |
| Appearance | Grayish-white, hard metal |
History and Discovery
Discovered by: Juan José and Fausto Elhuyar Year of Discovery: 1783 Location: Bergara, Spain
Etymology
Named from German "wolfram" (wolf's foam) and Swedish "tung sten" (heavy stone). Symbol W from "wolfram."
Applications and Uses
- Incandescent light bulb filaments
- High-speed steel tools
- Tungsten carbide cutting tools (extremely hard)
- Welding electrodes
- X-ray tubes
- Armor-piercing ammunition
Interesting Facts
- Highest melting point of all elements (3422°C)
- Two names: tungsten (English) and wolfram (German)
- Symbol W from "wolfram"
- Tungsten carbide is nearly as hard as diamond
- Extremely dense—used in counterweights and darts