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Niobium

Element 41 · Transition metal

Specimen

Atomic number
41
Atomic mass
92.9064
State at room temperature
Solid
Melting point
2,477 °C
Boiling point
4,744 °C
Density
8.57 g/cm³
Discovered
1801

Physical data from PubChem.1

Can I eat it?

In food and water
Not needed, little harm known. Niobium has no known function in the body. The authors of a 2025 review of niobium for medical implants call it low in toxicity. There are few studies of niobium taken by mouth. 23

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The atom

Nb
ShellElectrons
1 (K) 2
2 (L) 8
3 (M) 18
4 (N) 12
5 (O) outermost 1
Total41

Configuration [Kr] 4d⁴ 5s¹

4d ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑
5s ↑
A shell diagram: each ring is an electron shell and each dot is one electron. The nucleus holds 41 protons. The outermost shell is shown in red. Electrons do not travel on rings: they fill orbitals, regions where an electron is likely to be found. The boxes are those orbitals for the electrons outside the Kr core, with one arrow per electron.

Related elements

Group 5
V Vanadium Ta Tantalum Db Dubnium

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Sources

  1. 1

    National Center for Biotechnology Information (PubChem), 2026. Periodic Table of Elements .

    Atomic mass, electron configuration, melting and boiling points, density and discovery year for all 118 elements.

  2. 2

    Royal Society of Chemistry, 2026. Niobium - Element information, properties and uses .

    • Niobium has no known biological role.
  3. 3

    Khalid MU, Rudokaite A, Hakme da Silva AM, et al. (Nanomaterials), 2025. A Comprehensive Review of Niobium Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, Applications in Health Sciences, and Future Challenges .

    • Niobium, due to its excellent biocompatibility, low toxicity, and ability to form stable oxide layers