Titanium facts for kids

Titanium

Titanium is a super strong and light metal. It's a special chemical element found on the periodic table, with the symbol Ti. Its number is 22, which means it has 22 protons and 22 electrons. The most common type of titanium also has 26 neutrons.

A scientist named William Gregor discovered titanium in 1791. It got its name from the powerful Titans of Greek myths, because it's such a strong metal!

What is Titanium Made Of?

Titanium can mix with other chemicals to create different materials. When titanium touches oxygen in the air, it forms a white substance called titanium dioxide (TiO₂). You might know it as titania.

Titanium dioxide is often used as a white color or to make things less see-through. It's also very safe! Because it doesn't react with things inside the human body, it's used in foods and even toothpaste. When you see a piece of titanium metal, it's usually covered by a thin layer of this titanium dioxide. This layer forms naturally in the air and acts like a shield, protecting the metal from damage.

How is Titanium Used?

Titanium is super useful because it's both strong and light.

• Airplanes and Spacecraft: Special mixes of titanium, called titanium alloys, are used to build parts for airplanes and spacecraft. These alloys are almost as strong as steel but much lighter. They are also much stronger than aluminium alloys, even though they are only a little heavier. This means airplane parts can be thinner and lighter, but still handle huge forces.
• Resistant to Rust: Titanium doesn't rust easily, even in harsh conditions like sea water or chlorine. This makes it great for things that need to last a long time in tough environments.
• Other Uses: You can find titanium in many other places too! It's used in medical implants like bone screws, in sports equipment, and even in jewelry.

Things to Know About Titanium

While titanium is amazing, there are a few things to remember:

• It can burn at very high temperatures.
• Like many metal powders, titanium dust is extremely flammable. This means it can catch fire very easily, so it needs to be handled carefully.

Images for kids

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  The Pourbaix diagram for titanium in pure water, perchloric acid, or sodium hydroxide

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  A drill bit coated with titanium nitride (TiN), which makes it stronger.

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  Titanium(III) compounds are often violet, like this solution of titanium trichloride.

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  Martin Heinrich Klaproth named titanium after the Titans from Greek mythology.

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  Titanium sponge, made using a process called the Kroll process.

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  Small pieces of titanium mineral concentrate.

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  A cylinder made of "grade 2" titanium.

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  Titanium dioxide is a white powder and the most common compound of titanium.

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  Very pure titanium (99.999%) showing its crystal structure.

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  Stamps made from titanium.

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  The outside of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is covered in titanium.

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  This table shows how different voltages create different colors on anodized titanium.

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  Medical screws and a plate made of titanium, used to fix a broken wrist.

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  Nettles are plants that naturally contain small amounts of titanium.

See also

In Spanish: Titanio para niños