hafnium

/'hæfniəm/

Thân thiện

A scientist examines a sample of hafnium in the laboratory.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A chemical element: "hafnium" is a grey, tetravalent metallic element with the symbol Hf and atomic number 72. It is chemically similar to zirconium and is typically found within zirconium minerals. It is used in various applications, notably in filaments for its property of readily emitting electrons.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The control rods in some nuclear reactors are made of hafnium.
  • Scientists isolated hafnium from zirconium ore.
  • Hafnium's high melting point makes it suitable for superalloys.

Advanced Usage

• Technical/Scientific Context: The word is almost exclusively used in scientific, metallurgical, and engineering contexts.
  • The hafnium content in the mineral sample was analyzed using spectroscopy.
  • Hafnium-based oxides are crucial components in advanced semiconductor chips.

Variants and Related Words

• Hafnate (n): A salt or ester of an oxyacid of hafnium.
• Hafnium dioxide / Hafnia (n): A compound of hafnium and oxygen (HfO₂), used as a high-κ dielectric.

Synonyms

• Element 72: Refers to hafnium by its atomic number.
• Metallic element: A general category to which hafnium belongs.

Related Phrases / Compound Terms

• Hafnium carbide: An extremely hard refractory compound.
• Hafnium wire: Wire made from hafnium, used in filaments.

Notes on Meaning

• Primary Meaning: The term refers specifically to the pure metallic element. It does not have common idiomatic or figurative meanings outside of technical fields. Its usage is precise and domain-specific.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a grey tetravalent metallic element that resembles zirconium chemically and is found in zirconium minerals; used in filaments for its ready emission of electrons

Từ đồng nghĩa

• Hf
• atomic number 72