Hafnium
Symbol Hf. Refers to a silvery lustrous metallic transition element; a.n. 72; r.a.m. 178.49; r.d. 13.3; m.p. 2230±200C; b.p. 46020C. The element occurs with zirconium and is extracted by formation of the chloride and reduction by the Kroll process.
It finds used in tungsten alloys in filaments and electrodes and as a neutron absorber. The metal forms a passive oxide layer in air. Most of its compounds are hafnium (IV) complexes; less stable hafnium (III) complexes also exist.
The element was first reported by Urbain in 1911,and its existence was finally established by D. Coster and G.C. de Hevesey in 1923.


