Name: niobium
Symbol: Nb
Atomic number: 41
Atomic weight: 92.90638 (2)
Group in periodic table: 5
Group name:
Period in periodic table: 5
Block in periodic table: d-block
CAS registry ID: 7440-03-1
The name niobium was adopted officially by IUPAC in 1950, but a few commercial producers still like to refer to it as columbium. Niobium is a shiny, white, soft, and ductile metal, and takes on a bluish tinge when exposed to air at room temperatures for a long time. The metal starts to oxidize in air at high temperatures, and when handled hot must be done so under a protective atmosphere so as to minimize oxide production.