Hafnium facts for kids

A shiny bar of hafnium metal, made using a special process.

Hafnium is a special kind of building block that makes up everything around us. Scientists call these building blocks chemical elements. Hafnium has the chemical symbol Hf. Its atomic number is 72, which means it has 72 protons in its atoms.

Hafnium is a shiny, silver-gray metal. In chemistry, it belongs to a group of metals called transition metals. It acts a lot like another element called zirconium.

Where is Hafnium Found?

Hafnium is usually found mixed in with zirconium minerals. It's not often found by itself.

What is Hafnium Used For?

Hafnium is a very useful metal! Here are some of its main uses:

• It is mixed with tungsten to make strong alloys. These alloys are used to create thin wires called filaments and parts called electrodes. You might find these in some types of light bulbs or electronic devices.
• Hafnium is also very good at soaking up tiny particles called neutrons. Because of this, it is used in control rods inside nuclear power plants. These rods help to control the power of the nuclear reactions, making them safe.

Related pages

• Periodic table
• List of common elements

Images for kids

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  Small pieces of hafnium metal.

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  Hafnium dioxide, a compound of hafnium and oxygen.

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  A natural zircon crystal, about 2x2 cm, found in Tocantins, Brazil. Hafnium is often found with zircon.

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  From left to right: An oxidized hafnium ingot, a 1 cm cube of hafnium, and the melted tip of a hafnium electrode used in a special furnace.

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  Hafnium pellets with a thin layer of oxide, which creates interesting colors.

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  A photo showing the unique X-ray patterns of different elements, including hafnium.

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  The rocket nozzle of the Apollo Lunar Module (bottom right), which contains hafnium.

See also

In Spanish: Hafnio para niños