A solution and solid state study of niobium complexes University of ...

1. Introduction
Synopsis...
A brief introduction on the discovery of niobium is given. Focus is placed on the
major contributors in the discovery and initial chemistry of the metal. The controversy
surrounding the name of the metal is discussed. A proposal of the project aims are
also included.
1.1 History of Niobium
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Niobium and tantalum were discovered early in the nineteenth century, barely a year
apart, and since then great difficulty has been experienced in separating them. The
chemical properties of niobium are very similar to those of tantalum, an element in
the third row of the periodic table which completes the vanadium triad, and the two
are always found together.
In 1801 1 Charles Hatchett, a British chemist, analysed a mineral he called columbite,
after the location where it had been found near New London in Connecticut, North
America. He described the mineral as “...a heavy black stone with golden streaks...”.
Charles Hatchett determined that the mineral contained tantalic, titanic and tungstic
acids as well as thoria, zirconia, ceria and yttria and a new element that he named
Columbium. The mineral sample was stored in the British Museum in London since
1753. It was acquired from the collection of John Winthrop, the first governor of
Connecticut, who was a physician, an alchemist and a keen rock collector. 2
Tantalum was discovered by Anders Gustaf Ekeberg in 1802. Both columbite and
tantalite were analysed by William Hyde Wollaston, a British chemist, in 1809. He
incorrectly concluded that columbium and tantalum were the same element.
Wollaston was confused by the similar chemical and physical properties of the two
1 P. Enghag, Encyclopedia of the Elements: Technical Data, History, Processing, Applications, Wiley and Sons,
New York, 549, 2004.
2 C. Hatchett, Phil. Trans. Royal Society, 92, 49, 1802.
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