🔹 Basic Information

• Element Name: Hafnium
• Discovered By: Dirk Coster and George de Hevesy
• Year of Discovery: 1923
• Category: Transition Metal
• Group: 4
• State at Room Temperature: Solid (silvery-gray metal) ⚙️

Hafnium is a dense, corrosion-resistant metal that’s often found with zirconium and is known for handling extreme heat.

🔸 Chemical Properties

• Chemical Symbol: Hf
• Atomic Number: 72
• Atomic Mass: ~178.49 u
• Valency: +4
• Electronic Configuration: [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d² 6s²

Hafnium has a high melting point, excellent strength, and doesn’t easily react with acids or bases.

📘 Basic Things to Know

Hafnium is not radioactive, but it’s used in places where controlling nuclear reactions is crucial. It’s also a key part of modern electronics and aerospace technology.

🤔 Interesting Facts

• Named after Hafnia, the Latin name for Copenhagen, where it was discovered 🇩🇰
• Highly heat-resistant, making it perfect for use in jet engines and nuclear reactors 🔥
• Chemically very similar to zirconium, and usually found with it in nature
• Used in super-fast, tiny transistors in advanced microchips ⚡💻
• Can absorb neutrons easily, making it vital in nuclear control rods ☢️

🔧 Common Uses

• Nuclear Reactors: As control rods to safely manage nuclear reactions ☢️
• Aerospace & Jet Engines: In alloys that resist high temperatures ✈️🔥
• Electronics: Used in semiconductors and transistors for computers and phones 💻📱
• Plasma Cutting Tools: Hafnium tips help cut metal with precision ⚙️🔧
• Medical Devices & Equipment: Sometimes used in surgical tools due to its strength and stability 🏥

📚 Conclusion

Hafnium is a strong, smart metal that keeps things cool under pressure — from nuclear energy to nano-sized chips. For students, it shows how chemistry helps build the technology and power systems of the future! 🚀💡