Kobalt

From WikiMD's Wellnesspedia

Kobalt is a chemical element with the symbol Co and atomic number 27. It is found in the Earth's crust in chemically combined form. The free element, produced by reductive smelting, is a hard, lustrous, silver-gray metal.

Properties[edit | edit source]

Kobalt is a ferromagnetic metal, with a specific gravity of 8.9. The Curie temperature is 1,115 °C (2,039 °F) and the magnetic moment is 1.6–1.7 Bohr magnetons per atom. Kobalt has a relative permeability two-thirds that of iron. Metallic kobalt is not a health hazard.

Occurrence[edit | edit source]

Kobalt is a relatively rare element, it is only found in the Earth's crust to the extent of about 20 to 30 parts per million (ppm). The main source of kobalt is as a by-product of copper and nickel mining.

Uses[edit | edit source]

Kobalt is used in many industrial applications that capitalize on its unique properties, such as good resistance to wear and oxidation. It is used in high-speed and high-temperature alloys, in cemented carbides, and in magnetic alloys.

Health effects[edit | edit source]

Exposure to kobalt metal dust is harmful and can lead to a potentially fatal condition known as "hard metal lung disease". However, small amounts of kobalt are essential for human health, as it is a part of vitamin B12.

See also[edit | edit source]

Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.


Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD