Compare Hafnium vs Niobium: Periodic Table Element Comparison Table and Properties
Compare the elements Hafnium and Niobium on the basis of their properties, attributes and periodic table facts. Compare elements - Hafnium and Niobium comparison table side by side across over 90 properties. All the elements of similar categories show a lot of similarities and differences in their chemical, atomic, physical properties and uses. These similarities and dissimilarities should be known while we study periodic table elements. You can study the detailed comparison between Hafnium vs Niobium with most reliable information about their properties, attributes, facts, uses etc. You can compare Hf vs Nb on more than 90 properties like electronegativity, oxidation state, atomic shells, orbital structure, Electronaffinity, physical states, electrical conductivity and many more. This in-depth comparison helps students, educators, researchers, and science enthusiasts understand the differences and similarities between Hafnium and Niobium.
Hafnium and Niobium Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison between Hafnium (Hf) and Niobium (Nb), focusing on their position in the periodic table, physical and chemical properties, stability, and uses.
Facts - Basic Element Details
| Name | Hafnium | Niobium |
|---|---|---|
| Atomic Number | 72 | 41 |
| Atomic Symbol | Hf | Nb |
| Atomic Weight | 178.49 | 92.90638 |
| Phase at STP | Solid | Solid |
| Color | Gray | Gray |
| Metallic Classification | Transition Metal | Transition Metal |
| Group in Periodic Table | group 4 | group 5 |
| Group Name | titanium family | vanadium family |
| Period in Periodic Table | period 6 | period 5 |
| Block in Periodic Table | d -block | d -block |
| Electronic Configuration | [Xe] 4f14 5d2 6s2 | [Kr] 4d4 5s1 |
| Electronic Shell Structure (Electrons per shell) | 2, 8, 18, 32, 10, 2 | 2, 8, 18, 12, 1 |
| Melting Point | 2506 K | 2750 K |
| Boiling Point | 4876 K | 5017 K |
| CAS Number | CAS7440-58-6 | CAS7440-03-1 |
| Neighborhood Elements | Neighborhood Elements of Hafnium | Neighborhood Elements of Niobium |
History
| Parameter | Hafnium | Niobium |
|---|---|---|
| History | The element Hafnium was discovered by D. Coster and G. von Hevesy in year 1922 in Denmark. Hafnium derived its name from Hafnia, the New Latin name for Copenhagen. | The element Niobium was discovered by C. Hatchett in year 1801 in United Kingdom. Niobium derived its name from Niobe, daughter of king Tantalus from Greek mythology. |
| Discovery | D. Coster and G. von Hevesy (1922) | C. Hatchett (1801) |
| Isolated | D. Coster and G. von Hevesy (1922) | W. Blomstrand (1864) |
Presence: Abundance in Nature and Around Us
Parts per billion (ppb) by weight / by atoms (1ppb =10^-7 %)
| Property | Hafnium | Niobium |
|---|---|---|
| Abundance in Universe | 0.7 / 0.005 | 2 / 0.02 |
| Abundance in Sun | 1 / 0.01 | 4 / 0.05 |
| Abundance in Meteorites | 170 / 20 | 190 / 30 |
| Abundance in Earth's Crust | 3300 / 380 | 17000 / 3700 |
| Abundance in Oceans | 0.008 / 0.00028 | 0.001 / 0.000067 |
| Abundance in Humans | - / - | - / - |
Crystal Structure and Atomic Structure
| Property | Hafnium | Niobium |
|---|---|---|
| Atomic Volume | 13.44 cm3/mol | 10.841 cm3/mol |
| Atomic Radius | 208 pm | 198 pm |
| Covalent Radius | 150 pm | 137 pm |
| Van der Waals Radius | - | - |
Atomic Spectrum - Spectral Lines | ||
| Emission Spectrum |  |  |
| Absorption Spectrum |  |  |
| Lattice Constant | 319.64, 319.64, 505.11 pm | 330.04, 330.04, 330.04 pm |
| Lattice Angle | π/2, π/2, 2 π/3 | π/2, π/2, π/2 |
| Space Group Name | P63/mmc | Im_ 3m |
| Space Group Number | 194 | 229 |
| Crystal Structure | Simple Hexagonal  | Body Centered Cubic  |
Atomic and Orbital Properties
| Property | Hafnium | Niobium |
|---|---|---|
| Atomic Number | 72 | 41 |
| Number of Electrons (with no charge) | 72 | 41 |
| Number of Protons | 72 | 41 |
| Mass Number | 178.49 | 92.90638 |
| Number of Neutrons | 106 | 52 |
| Shell structure (Electrons per energy level) | 2, 8, 18, 32, 10, 2 | 2, 8, 18, 12, 1 |
| Electron Configuration | [Xe] 4f14 5d2 6s2 | [Kr] 4d4 5s1 |
| Valence Electrons | 5d2 6s2 | 4d4 5s1 |
| Oxidation State | 4 | 5 |
| Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers) | 3F2 | 6D1/2 |
| Shell structure |  |  |
Isotopes and Nuclear Properties
Hafnium has 5 stable naturally occuring isotopes while Niobium has 1 stable naturally occuring isotopes.
| Parameter | Hafnium | Niobium |
|---|---|---|
| Known Isotopes | 153Hf, 154Hf, 155Hf, 156Hf, 157Hf, 158Hf, 159Hf, 160Hf, 161Hf, 162Hf, 163Hf, 164Hf, 165Hf, 166Hf, 167Hf, 168Hf, 169Hf, 170Hf, 171Hf, 172Hf, 173Hf, 174Hf, 175Hf, 176Hf, 177Hf, 178Hf, 179Hf, 180Hf, 181Hf, 182Hf, 183Hf, 184Hf, 185Hf, 186Hf, 187Hf, 188Hf | 81Nb, 82Nb, 83Nb, 84Nb, 85Nb, 86Nb, 87Nb, 88Nb, 89Nb, 90Nb, 91Nb, 92Nb, 93Nb, 94Nb, 95Nb, 96Nb, 97Nb, 98Nb, 99Nb, 100Nb, 101Nb, 102Nb, 103Nb, 104Nb, 105Nb, 106Nb, 107Nb, 108Nb, 109Nb, 110Nb, 111Nb, 112Nb, 113Nb |
| Stable Isotopes | Naturally occurring stable isotopes: 176Hf, 177Hf, 178Hf, 179Hf, 180Hf | Naturally occurring stable isotopes: 93Nb |
| Neutron Cross Section | 104 | 1.15 |
| Neutron Mass Absorption | 0.02 | 0.0004 |
Chemical Properties: Ionization Energies and electron affinity
| Property | Hafnium | Niobium |
|---|---|---|
| Valence or Valency | 4 | 5 |
| Electronegativity | 1.3 Pauling Scale | 1.6 Pauling Scale |
| Oxidation State | 4 | 5 |
| Electron Affinity | 0 kJ/mol | 86.1 kJ/mol |
| Ionization Energies | 1st: 658.5 kJ/mol 2nd: 1440 kJ/mol 3rd: 2250 kJ/mol 4th: 3216 kJ/mol | 1st: 652.1 kJ/mol 2nd: 1380 kJ/mol 3rd: 2416 kJ/mol 4th: 3700 kJ/mol 5th: 4877 kJ/mol 6th: 9847 kJ/mol 7th: 12100 kJ/mol |
Physical Properties
Niobium (8.57 g/cm³) is less dense than Hafnium (13.31 g/cm³). This means that a given volume of Hafnium will be heavier than the same volume of Niobium. Hafnium is about 55.300000000000004 denser than Niobium
| Property | Hafnium | Niobium |
|---|---|---|
| Phase at STP | Solid | Solid |
| Color | Gray | Gray |
| Density | 13.31 g/cm3 | 8.57 g/cm3 |
| Density (when liquid (at melting point)) | 12 g/cm3 | - |
| Molar Volume | 13.44 cm3/mol | 10.841 cm3/mol |
Mechanical and Hardness Properties
| Property | Hafnium | Niobium |
|---|---|---|
Elastic Properties | ||
| Young Modulus | 78 | 105 |
| Shear Modulus | 30 GPa | 38 GPa |
| Bulk Modulus | 110 GPa | 170 GPa |
| Poisson Ratio | 0.37 | 0.4 |
Hardness - Tests to Measure of Hardness of Element | ||
| Mohs Hardness | 5.5 MPa | 6 MPa |
| Vickers Hardness | 1760 MPa | 1320 MPa |
| Brinell Hardness | 1700 MPa | 736 MPa |
Thermal and Electrical Conductivity
| Property | Hafnium | Niobium |
|---|---|---|
Heat and Conduction Properties | ||
| Thermal Conductivity | 23 W/(m K) | 54 W/(m K) |
| Thermal Expansion | 0.0000059 /K | 0.00000729 /K |
Electrical Properties | ||
| Electrical Conductivity | 3300000 S/m | 6700000 S/m |
| Resistivity | 3e-7 m Ω | 1.5e-7 m Ω |
| Superconducting Point | 0.128 | 9.25 |
Magnetic and Optical Properties
| Property | Hafnium | Niobium |
|---|---|---|
Magnetic Properties | ||
| Magnetic Type | Paramagnetic | Paramagnetic |
| Curie Point | - | - |
| Mass Magnetic Susceptibility | 5.3e-9 m3/kg | 2.76e-8 m3/kg |
| Molar Magnetic Susceptibility | 9.46e-10 m3/mol | 2.56e-9 m3/mol |
| Volume Magnetic Susceptibility | 0.0000705 | 0.000237 |
Optical Properties | ||
| Refractive Index | - | - |
Acoustic Properties | ||
| Speed of Sound | 3010 m/s | 3480 m/s |
Thermal Properties - Enthalpies and thermodynamics
| Property | Hafnium | Niobium |
|---|---|---|
| Melting Point | 2506 K | 2750 K |
| Boiling Point | 4876 K | 5017 K |
| Critical Temperature | - | - |
| Superconducting Point | 0.128 | 9.25 |
Enthalpies | ||
| Heat of Fusion | 25.5 kJ/mol | 26.8 kJ/mol |
| Heat of Vaporization | 630 kJ/mol | 690 kJ/mol |
| Heat of Combustion | - | - |
Regulatory and Health - Health and Safety Parameters and Guidelines
| Parameter | Hafnium | Niobium |
|---|---|---|
| CAS Number | CAS7440-58-6 | CAS7440-03-1 |
| RTECS Number | RTECSMG4600000 | RTECSQT9900000 |
| DOT Hazard Class | 4.2 | - |
| DOT Numbers | 2545 | - |
| EU Number | - | - |
| NFPA Fire Rating | - | - |
| NFPA Health Rating | - | - |
| NFPA Reactivity Rating | - | - |
| NFPA Hazards | - | - |
| AutoIgnition Point | - | - |
| Flashpoint | - | - |
Compare Hafnium and Niobium With Other Elements
Compare Hafnium and Niobium with other elements of the periodic table. Explore howHafnium and Niobium stack up against other elements of the periodic table. Use our interactive comparison tool to analyze 90+ properties across different metals, non-metals, metalloids, and noble gases. Understanding these differences is crucial for applications in engineering, chemistry, electronics, biology, and material science.