Cobalt
Real Metals · Uncommon · Timeless
Cobalt blue has colored glass and ceramics for thousands of years. Chinese blue-and-white porcelain, Persian tiles and Renaissance paintings all owe their blues to cobalt compounds. The metal itself is essential in modern lithium-ion batteries.
Identity
- Symbol
- Co
- Atomic number
- 27
- Source
- Natural element
- Aliases
- Co, Kobold metal (archaic)
Physical Properties
- Appearance
- Hard lustrous grey-blue metal; cobalt compounds produce vivid deep blue pigments
- Luster
- Metallic
- Density
- 8.9 g/cm³
- Melting point
- 1495 °C
- Boiling point
- 2927 °C
- Lighter
- Orium
- Denser
- Nickel
- Magnetism
- Ferromagnetic
- Electrical conductivity
- Medium
Mechanical Properties
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Tensile strength
- 760 MPa
- Softer
- Palladium
- Harder
- Inconel
- Workability
- Moderate
- Brittleness
- Moderate
- Malleability
- Moderate
- Ductility
- Moderate
Chemical Properties
- Corrosion resistance
- moderate
- Reactivity
- moderate
Lore & Narrative
The name cobalt comes from the German Kobold, meaning goblin, because German miners believed malicious spirits had replaced the silver they expected with this troublesome ore that produced toxic fumes when smelted.
- Notable uses
- Blue pigments, lithium batteries, superalloys, cancer treatment
- Forge uses
- pigments, alloys, batteries
- Worldbuilding traits
- blue-producing, magnetic, modern, toxic-ore
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