niobium
1 synonym for niobium, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A light grey, ductile metallic element with the symbol Nb and atomic number 41, used in superconducting materials.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
columbium
How to use niobium
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
niobium alloy
niobium atom
atomic number 41
element niobium
It is a technical chemistry term, and the alternative name columbium belongs to metallurgy only.
Etymology
The name comes from Niobe plus the suffix -ium. It was chosen because the element behaves much like tantalum, which was named after Niobe's father Tantalus.
Full origin of niobium →Frequently asked questions
What is niobium used for?
It is used in superconducting materials.
What is the atomic number of niobium?
Niobium has atomic number 41 and the symbol Nb.
Is niobium the same as columbium?
Columbium is a name for the same element used in metallurgy, but it is not used in science.
