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cobalt [Co]
From the German kobold meaning goblin or evil spirit. Isolated by Swedish chemist Greg Brandt in 1735. Minerals containing cobalt were used by early civilizations of Egypt & Mesopotamia for coloring & dyeing.
Occurrence:
1) found in the minerals cobalite, smaltite & erythrite
2) often associated with iron, nickel, silver, lead & copper ores
Characteristics:
1) lustrous silver-white-blue hard brittle magnetic metallic element
2) stable in air
3) unaffected by water
4) slowly oxidizes in dilute acid
5) low toxicity with ingestion
6) suspected carcinogen
Uses:
1) essential to most species including humans
-> occurs in vitamin B12 (only known carbon-metal bond in biology
2) alloys
3) ceramics, magnets, stainless steels
4) catalysts
5) paints
6) electroplating
Laboratory:
- cobalt in specimen
- cobalt in hair
- cobalt in nail
- cobalt in tissue
- cobalt in erythrocytes
- cobalt in body fluid
- cobalt in blood
- cobalt in CSF
- cobalt in serum/plasma
- cobalt in synovial fluid
- cobalt in urine
* also see ARUP consult [3]
Related
Co+2
periodic table
Specific
cobalt-57
General
trace element
metal
Properties
SIZE: AW = 58.933
atomic number
VALUE: 27
VALENCE: AR 3D7 4S2
Database Correlations
PUBCHEM cid=104370
References
- Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, Miriam-
Webster Inc. Springfield, MA 1990
- Chemical & Engineering News, Sept 8, 2003
- ARUP Consult: Trace Elements - Deficiency and Toxicity
The Physician's Guide to Laboratory Test Selection & Interpretation
https://www.arupconsult.com/content/trace-minerals