Done By: Radhika Sharma. Class: 9 Ivory. Cobalt. Done By: Radhika Sharma. Class: 9 Ivory.

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Discovery. Cobalt was discovered by George Brandt, a Swedish chemist, in 1735. The metal was discovered when Brandt was attempting to find a mineral that had the ability to give the gas a blue dye, and it was Cobalt. It’s represented by symbols Co Its m.p. is at 1495 degrees Celsius while its b.p. is at 2927 degrees Celsius. Cobalt is a silvery-white metal which is brittle and hard it is a transitional metal with magnetic properties.

What is Cobalt used for? Cobalt is mixed with metals such as iron. Nickel and some other metals to create a metal called alnico. This metal is used to build jet engines and wind turbine engines. Used in magnet steel and stainless steel. Used in electroplating because it is hard and immune to oxidization. Salts are created using cobalt which gives it a blue colour. This salt can be used to make porcelain, glass decoration, ceramics and tiles. Cobalt’s isotopes can be used to treat cancer. Some of its compounds are used as paint pigments.

Where is it found? Cobalt are found in the minerals like cobaltite, smaltite, and erythrite. It can also be found as bi- products of iron, nickel, copper, and silver. It is found in their ores. Cobalt can be found in the shallow waters in Hawaii, or in the pacific oceans.

Health issues. A high concentration of cobalt may cause lung infection, asthma, pneumonia. This occurs with people who work with cobalt in factories. Edible plants growing on contaminated soil, such as fruits and vegetables may take in high amounts of cobalt, which may lead to : vomiting, and nausea, vision problem, heart problem, and thyroid damage. Radioactive isotopes of cobalt may cause sterility, hair loss, bleeding, and in severe cases death. Cobalt that mixes with dust can cause a lot of respiratory problems.

Environmental issues. Cobalt which Is produced from mining, may get blown in the air and settle in the soil. The cobalt may cause some deficiency in the plants growing on that soil, so when animals graze on them they might get infected my the high concentrations of cobalt and as a result die. Cobalt is released through nuclear power station, or from a nuclear explosion, this may cause radiation, and may kill plants and animals in the process.

Advantages of Cobalt. The cobalt used to make alloys in the engines are so string that they don’t bend, and retains its shape permanently. Cobalt used to make jewelry is shatter proof and will never break, so the jewelry is more durable. Cobalt is used to retain colour of decoration pieces and jewelry, this prevents oxidizations and the colour doesn’t become dull. Cobalt is also important for our body as it provides us with vitamin B12.

Disadvantages of Cobalt. Increase in concentration can cause diseases that can kill you or damage the environment. Cobalt used for hip replacements have caused problems due to its Nano particles breaking off and contaminating the body. Some isotopes of cobalt can cause cancer if overdose due to its radiation levels.

Reaction with air and water. Air- 3Co(s)+4O2 (g)= 2Co3 O4(s) , 2Co (s)+O2(g)=2CoO(s). Water- 2Co (s)+O2(g)=2CoO(s)- water doesn’t react with water that much so it Just Produces cobalt(II) oxide.

Bibliography.    elements. (2014, febuary 14). Retrieved febuary 14 , 2014 , from www.lenntech.com: http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/co.htm elements. (2014 , febuary 14). Retrieved febuary 14, 2014 , from www.webelements.com : https://www.webelements.com/cobalt/uses.html