Dianium
Encyclopedia
Dianium was the proposed name for a new element found by the mineralogist and poet Wolfgang Franz von Kobell
in 1860. The name derived from the Greek goddess Diana
. During the analysis of the mineral tantalite
and niobite he concluded that it does contain an element similar to niobium
and tantalum
.
Following the rediscovery of niobium in 1846 by the German chemist Heinrich Rose
, Friedrich Wöhler
, Heinrich Rose, R. Hermann and Kobell analysed the minerals tantalite
and columbite
to better understand the chemistry of niobium and tantalum. The similar reactivity of niobium and tantalum hindered preparation of pure samples and therefore several new elements were proposed, which were later found to be mixtures of niobium and tantalum. Rose discovered pelopium
in 1846, while Hermann announced the discovery of ilmenium
in 1847. In 1860 Kobell published the results on the tantalite from a quarry near Kimito
a village in Finland
and columbite from Bodenmais
a village in Germany. He concluded that the element he found was different from tantalum, niobium, pelopium and ilmenium.
The differences between tantalum and niobium and the fact that no other similar element was present were unequivocally demonstrated in 1864 by Christian Wilhelm Blomstrand
, and Henri Etienne Sainte-Claire Deville
, as well as by Louis J. Troost, who determined the formulas of some of the compounds in 1865 and finally by the Swiss chemist Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac
Both tantalum and niobium react with chlorine
and traces of oxygen, including atmospheric concentrations, with niobium forming two compounds: the white volatile niobium pentachloride (NbCl5) and the non-volatile niobium oxychloride
(NbOCl3). The claimed new elements pelopium, ilmenium
and dianium were in fact identical to niobium or mixtures of niobium and tantalum.
Wolfgang Franz von Kobell
Wolfgang Xavier Franz Baron von Kobell was a German mineralogist and writer of short stories and poems in Bavarian dialect.-Biography:He was born in Munich, Bavaria and died there...
in 1860. The name derived from the Greek goddess Diana
Diana (mythology)
In Roman mythology, Diana was the goddess of the hunt and moon and birthing, being associated with wild animals and woodland, and having the power to talk to and control animals. She was equated with the Greek goddess Artemis, though she had an independent origin in Italy...
. During the analysis of the mineral tantalite
Tantalite
Tantalite, [2O6], is a mineral group that is close to columbite. The two are often grouped together as a semi-singular mineral called coltan or "columbite-tantalite" in many mineral guides. However, tantalite has a much greater specific gravity than columbite...
and niobite he concluded that it does contain an element similar to niobium
Niobium
Niobium or columbium , is a chemical element with the symbol Nb and atomic number 41. It's a soft, grey, ductile transition metal, which is often found in the pyrochlore mineral, the main commercial source for niobium, and columbite...
and tantalum
Tantalum
Tantalum is a chemical element with the symbol Ta and atomic number 73. Previously known as tantalium, the name comes from Tantalus, a character in Greek mythology. Tantalum is a rare, hard, blue-gray, lustrous transition metal that is highly corrosion resistant. It is part of the refractory...
.
Following the rediscovery of niobium in 1846 by the German chemist Heinrich Rose
Heinrich Rose
Heinrich Rose was a German mineralogist and analytical chemist. He was the brother of the mineralogist Gustav Rose and a son of Valentin Rose....
, Friedrich Wöhler
Friedrich Wöhler
Friedrich Wöhler was a German chemist, best known for his synthesis of urea, but also the first to isolate several chemical elements.-Biography:He was born in Eschersheim, which belonged to aau...
, Heinrich Rose, R. Hermann and Kobell analysed the minerals tantalite
Tantalite
Tantalite, [2O6], is a mineral group that is close to columbite. The two are often grouped together as a semi-singular mineral called coltan or "columbite-tantalite" in many mineral guides. However, tantalite has a much greater specific gravity than columbite...
and columbite
Columbite
Columbite, also called niobite, niobite-tantalite and columbate [2O6], is a black mineral group that is an ore of niobium and tantalum. It has a submetallic luster and a high density and is a niobate of iron and manganese, containing tantalate of iron. This mineral group was first found in Haddam,...
to better understand the chemistry of niobium and tantalum. The similar reactivity of niobium and tantalum hindered preparation of pure samples and therefore several new elements were proposed, which were later found to be mixtures of niobium and tantalum. Rose discovered pelopium
Pelopium
Pelopium was the proposed name for a new element found by the chemist Heinrich Rose in 1845. The name derived from the Greek king and later god Pelops. During the analysis of the mineral tantalite he concluded that it does contain an element similar to niobium and tantalum...
in 1846, while Hermann announced the discovery of ilmenium
Ilmenium
Ilmenium was the proposed name for a new element found by the chemist R. Hermann in 1847. During the analysis of the mineral samarskite he concluded that it does contain an element similar to niobium and tantalum...
in 1847. In 1860 Kobell published the results on the tantalite from a quarry near Kimito
Kimito
Kimito is a former municipality of Finland. On January 1, 2009, it was consolidated with Dragsfjärd and Västanfjärd to form the new municipality of Kimitoön...
a village in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
and columbite from Bodenmais
Bodenmais
Bodenmais is a municipality in the district of Regen in Bavaria in Germany. It lies at one end of the Zeller Valley in the Bavarian Forest.Its tourist attractions include in winter a ski-ing hill , doubling in summer as a 600m long summer Bob-sleigh track...
a village in Germany. He concluded that the element he found was different from tantalum, niobium, pelopium and ilmenium.
The differences between tantalum and niobium and the fact that no other similar element was present were unequivocally demonstrated in 1864 by Christian Wilhelm Blomstrand
Christian Wilhelm Blomstrand
Christian Wilhelm Blomstrand was a Swedish mineralogist and chemist.Blomstrand was born in Växjö, Sweden and studied chemistry at the University of Lund, where he received his Ph.D in 1850 and his habilitation in 1854. After a expedition to Spitsbergen and a being a lecturer at the Elementary...
, and Henri Etienne Sainte-Claire Deville
Henri Etienne Sainte-Claire Deville
Henri Étienne Sainte-Claire Deville was a French chemist.He was born in the island of St Thomas, West Indies, where his father was French consul. Together with his elder brother Charles he was educated in Paris at the College Rollin...
, as well as by Louis J. Troost, who determined the formulas of some of the compounds in 1865 and finally by the Swiss chemist Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac
Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac
Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac was a Swiss chemist whose work with atomic weights suggested the possibility of isotopes and the packing fraction of nuclei and whose study of the rare earth elements led to his discovery of ytterbium in 1878 and codiscovery of gadolinium in 1880.- Life and work...
Both tantalum and niobium react with chlorine
Chlorine
Chlorine is the chemical element with atomic number 17 and symbol Cl. It is the second lightest halogen, found in the periodic table in group 17. The element forms diatomic molecules under standard conditions, called dichlorine...
and traces of oxygen, including atmospheric concentrations, with niobium forming two compounds: the white volatile niobium pentachloride (NbCl5) and the non-volatile niobium oxychloride
Niobium oxychloride
Niobium oxychloride is the inorganic compound with the formula NbOCl3. It is a white, crystalline, diamagnetic solid. It is often found as an impurity in samples of niobium pentachloride, a common reagent in niobium chemistry.- Structure and synthesis :...
(NbOCl3). The claimed new elements pelopium, ilmenium
Ilmenium
Ilmenium was the proposed name for a new element found by the chemist R. Hermann in 1847. During the analysis of the mineral samarskite he concluded that it does contain an element similar to niobium and tantalum...
and dianium were in fact identical to niobium or mixtures of niobium and tantalum.