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niobium definition

nio·bium (nī ō′bē əm)

noun

a gray or white, metallic chemical element, somewhat ductile and malleable, used in alloy steels, superconducting alloys, in jet engines and rockets, etc.: symbol, Nb; at. no., 41

Etymology: ModL: so named (1844) by H. Rose (1795-1864), Ger chemist (for earlier columbium) < Gr Niobē (because of its close relationship to tantalum) + -ium: see Niobe & tantalum

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