hafnium
[ haf-nee-uh m, hahf- ]
/ ˈhæf ni əm, ˈhɑf- /
noun Chemistry.
a gray, toxic metallic element with a high melting point (over 2000°C), found in most zirconium minerals. Symbol: Hf; atomic weight: 178.49; atomic number: 72; specific gravity: 12.1.
Origin of hafnium
1923; < New Latin
Hafn(ia) Copenhagen +
-ium
Words nearby hafnium
British Dictionary definitions for hafnium
hafnium
/ (ˈhæfnɪəm) /
noun
a bright metallic element found in zirconium ores: used in tungsten filaments and as a neutron absorber in nuclear reactors. Symbol: Hf; atomic no: 72; atomic wt: 178.49; valency: 4; relative density: 13.31; melting pt: 2231±20°C; boiling pt: 4603°C
Word Origin for hafnium
C20: New Latin, named after
Hafnia, Latin name of Copenhagen +
-ium
Medical definitions for hafnium
hafnium
[ hăf′nē-əm ]
n. Symbol Hf
A metallic element found with zirconium and used in nuclear reactor control rods and in tungsten alloys used in filaments. Atomic number 72.
Scientific definitions for hafnium
hafnium
[ hăf′nē-əm ]
Hf
A bright, silvery metallic element that occurs in zirconium ores. Because hafnium absorbs neutrons better than any other metal and is resistant to corrosion, it is used to control nuclear reactions. Atomic number 72; atomic weight 178.49; melting point 2,220°C; boiling point 5,400°C; specific gravity 13.3; valence 4. See Periodic Table.