Co Cobalt
Element Information, Facts, Properties, Trends, Uses, Comparison with other elements

The solid state structure of Cobalt is Simple Hexagonal.

The Crystal structure can be described in terms of its unit Cell. The unit Cells repeats itself in three dimensional space to form the structure.

Unit Cell Parameters

The unit cell is represented in terms of its lattice parameters, which are the lengths of the cell edges Lattice Constants (a, b and c)

and the angles between them Lattice Angles (alpha, beta and gamma).

The positions of the atoms inside the unit cell are described by the set of atomic positions ( x_i, y_i, z_i) measured from a reference lattice point.

The symmetry properties of the crystal are described by the concept of space groups. All possible symmetric arrangements of particles in three-dimensional space are described by the 230 space groups (219 distinct types, or 230 if chiral copies are considered distinct.

Space Group Name	P63/mmc
Space Group Number	194
Crystal Structure	Simple Hexagonal
Number of atoms per unit cell

Cobalt atoms have 27 electrons and the electronic shell structure is [2, 8, 15, 2] with Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers) ⁴F_9/2.

Atomic Number	27
Number of Electrons (with no charge)	27
Number of Protons	27
Mass Number	59
Number of Neutrons	32
Shell structure (Electrons per energy level)	2, 8, 15, 2
Electron Configuration	[Ar] 3d7 4s2
Valence Electrons	3d7 4s2
Valence (Valency)	4
Main Oxidation States	2, 3
Oxidation States	-3, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers)	4F9/2

Bohr Atomic Model of Cobalt - Electrons per energy level

n		s	p	d	f

Ground State Electronic Configuration of Cobalt - neutral Cobalt atom

Abbreviated electronic configuration of Cobalt

The ground state abbreviated electronic configuration of Neutral Cobalt atom is [Ar] 3d7 4s2. The portion of Cobalt configuration that is equivalent to the noble gas of the preceding period, is abbreviated as [Ar]. For atoms with many electrons, this notation can become lengthy and so an abbreviated notation is used. This is important as it is the Valence electrons 3d7 4s2, electrons in the outermost shell that determine the chemical properties of the element.

Unabbreviated electronic configuration of neutral Cobalt

Complete ground state electronic configuration for the Cobalt atom, Unabbreviated electronic configuration

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d7 4s2

Electrons are filled in atomic orbitals as per the order determined by the Aufbau principle, Pauli Exclusion Principle and Hund’s Rule.

As per the Aufbau principle the electrons will occupy the orbitals having lower energies before occupying higher energy orbitals. According to this principle, electrons are filled in the following order: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, 5s, 4d, 5p, 6s, 4f, 5d, 6p, 7s, 5f, 6d, 7p…

The Pauli exclusion principle states that a maximum of two electrons, each having opposite spins, can fit in an orbital.

Hund's rule states that every orbital in a given subshell is singly occupied by electrons before a second electron is filled in an orbital.

Atomic Structure of Cobalt

Cobalt atomic radius is 152 pm, while it's covalent radius is 126 pm.

Atomic Spectrum of Cobalt

The electron affinity of Cobalt is 63.7 kJ/mol.

Ionization Energy of Cobalt

Refer to table below for Ionization energies of Cobalt

Refer to below table for Cobalt Physical Properties

Elastic Properties

Hardness of Cobalt - Tests to Measure of Hardness of Element

Cobalt Electrical Properties

Cobalt is Conductor of electricity. Refer to table below for the Electrical properties ofCobalt

Cobalt Heat and Conduction Properties

Cobalt Magnetic Properties

Optical Properties of Cobalt

Acoustic Properties of Cobalt

Refer to table below for Thermal properties of Cobalt

Enthalpies of Cobalt

Cobalt has 29 isotopes, with between 47 and 75 nucleons. Cobalt has 1 stable naturally occuring isotopes.

Isotopes of Cobalt - Naturally occurring stable Isotopes: 59Co.