Bits on the Ground

One of the coolest metals in the known universe is tungsten. Initially discovered in 1779 by Peter Woulfe in wolframite (FeMn)WO₄, it wasn’t until 1783 that brothers José and Fausto Elhuyar insolated tungsten are credited with its discovery in Spain. Fausto Elhuyar is also credited with being the first person to purify platinum. His brother is also credited with apparently nothing. The term tungsten comes from two Swedish words roughly meaning “heavy stone.” Initially, tungsten was called Wolfram due to Peter Woulfe being the first to discover it, which is why on the periodic table, W is the symbol for tungsten. In many European languages, Tungsten is still known as Wolfram. Tungsten naturally exists in combination with other types of atoms, usually appearing brittle and a dull yellow at room temperature. Pure tungsten would be a relatively soft allowing to be cut or molded, silver or white shiny metal and is very dense. Tungsten occurs naturally in five isotopes, ¹⁸⁰W, ¹⁸²W, ¹⁸⁴W, ¹⁸⁵W, and ¹⁸⁶W. Only ¹⁸⁰W has been observed for its half-life, lasting 10¹⁸ years. Tungsten isotopes are considered to be stable as they’re theorized to have very long half-lives. There are also twelve unstable forms as well as many more theorized isotopes never observed in nature. Tungsten’s electron configuration is 1s2 2s2p6 3s2p6d10 4s2p6d10f14 5s2p6d4 6s2, 74 electrons, and an atomic mass average of 183.85g. With a boiling point of 5655°C, tungsten takes top billing as the highest melting point of any known metal. Tungsten also has an ionic radius of .62 Å, and oxidation states at 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. It is incompatible with bromine triflouride, chlorine triflouride, fluorine, and iodine pentaflouride. 60% of the world’s tungsten is held in mined wolfram ore from China. Other areas of the world in which tungsten is found include: Malaysia, Burma, Bolivia, Canada, Australia, Japan and USA. Tungsten is usually found in the form of Wolframite or Scheelite.

In 2002, officials of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced urine samples taken from leukemia patients and others in the Fallon, Nevada area had shown high levels of tungsten. The Fallon area has been identified as a cancer cluster as sixteen children have been diagnosed with cancer. Though there is not enough data to draw a conclusion as the majority of the cancer victims are not longtime residents. It is still considered biologically more safe than lead, which is has steadily replaced in paints and household goods over the past forty years.

Since tungsten has such a high melting point, it has become the best choice as a glass/metal sealant for popular metal in electronics, microscopes, television tubes, etc. Tungsten first entered the lime-light when its use in the formation of the double-coiled light bulb filament lit up the world in the early 1900s. Still in use today, the double-coiled light bulb is considered the first artificial light source.

Tungsten revolutionized the world again in war. With the ability to remain in a solid state under intense physical pressure, German Nazis found a new use for tungsten in their landmines. Tungsten landmines would explode at high pressure and send deadly shrapnel flying at high speeds through the air, tearing apart metal, man, and machine alike. With deadly anarchy, this weapon would pierce through almost all forms of armor available in WW2. The only surefire safe way to avoid the blast was distance. Over the last fifty years, explosive war weaponry has shifted to utilizing depleted uranium to pierce enemy tanks and fortified vehicles and structures. Tungsten is now used in a more “green” manner – sought to replace lead in bullets for both hunting and military. As stated above, it has replaced lead in fishing weights as well as boat anchors.

Sodium tungstate, also known as sodium wolframate, Na₂WO₄, is white, chalky substance that is water soluble. Tungsten silicide, WSI₂, is created through chemical vapor disposition, requiring the use of words beyond my current knowledge. Scheelite, CaWO₄, is a calcium tungstate mineral that can be synthesized through the Czochralski process, although it is also found and mined naturally. The Czochralski process is a way to artificially grow crystals for use as semiconductors. Tungsten carbide, WC, and tungsten semicarbide, W₂C, can be found in a gray powder form but can also be compacted for use as parts of industrial machines, tools, and jewelry. Tungsten disulfide, also known as tungstenite, WS₂, and is produced through hydrothermal synthesis, the process of crystallizing substances at high temperatures, or through microwave treatment, among many other methods. Tungsten Hexafluoride, WF₆, is created when combing 3 atoms of fluorine gas (F₂). Heteropoly tungstate, PW₉O₃₄⁹⁻, is also a tungsten compound. Tungstic Acid is a hydrated tungsten trioxide, WO₃, and can be shown as WO₃H₂O or WO₃2H₂O. The monohydrate is solid, yellow, and insoluble in water.

When earthworms are introduced to lead, studies show it to be lethal even at low levels. Sodium tungstate, on the other hand, was much less toxic; though the tungstate completely inhibited the earthworm’s reproductive ability. So if you have a moral opposition to sexualized earthworms, tungsten is your friend. Ferrous tungsten added to steel to expand its life span as it greatly reduces the amount of erosion while increasing the strength of the steel; thus creating “high speed steel” that can be used to cut tool bits and other metals. Scheelite is a key component of neon light bulbs and has been used as gem stones, if its crystals are well-formed and free of major flaws. Sodium wolframate is used in the fireproofing of fabrics. Due to tungsten’s high resistance to heat, the clothes lose their flammability. Tungsten carbide is very important for the creation of hardened steels and vacuum tubes. It is also used to replace the weight of gold plated jewelry and is a popular because it is hypoallergenic and naturally scratch resistant. My wife picked out or wedding rings because, “they’re so heavy, we can’t help but notice if they aren’t there.” And within three months she managed to drop hers down the laundry grate of her uncle’s basement while incredibly inebriated – though I still have mine. Tungsten disulfide is a lubricant for machinery requiring to processes under high pressure and/or temperature due to its resistance to heat.

In conclusion, although I doubt you will read this, tungsten has a myriad of uses in our daily lives, even ones I have not been able to speak about, such as internal body enzymatic processes and breast implants, but the most important thing to me is that I can constantly look at the ring finger of my left hand and then make fun of my wife for being a bad drunk. And that makes life fun. Thank you Tungsten.