PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION

Co(OH)₂

TOXICITY

DERIVATION

CLASSIFICATION

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

REFRACTIVE INDEX

GENERAL DESCRIPTION & APPLICATIONS

Cobalt is a lustrous, silvery-blue metallic chemical element, symbol Co, atomic number of 27 and an atomic weight of 58.93. Cobalt is obtained primarily as a by-product of the mining and processing of copper and nickel ores. Examples of cobalt ores include cobaltite [(Co,Fe)AsS], erythrite [(Co₃(AsO₄)₂·8H₂O)]. fukuchilite ( Cu₃FeS₈₎, glaucodot [(Co,Fe)AsS], linnaeite [(Co,Ni)₃S_4], skutterudite [(Co,Ni,Fe)As₃], and smaltite [(Co,Fe,Ni)As_2]. Cobalt is extracted as a by-product of nickel and copper concentration through pyrometallurgical, hydrometallurgical and electrolytic processes. Cobalt contributes corrosion resistant and hardness if alloyed with other metals and when used in electroplating. The major uses of cobalt is preparing metal alloys. Cobalt-60 with a half-life of 5.3 years is a gamma ray source when used in radiotherapy and sterilization. It is used as a catalyst in the petroleum production and chemical synthesis. Cobalt-molybdate catalyst is active in desulfurization of petroleum. Cobalt is combined with many other elements including chlorine, sulfur, nitrogen and oxygen. In addition to a common state +1, the most prevalent oxidation states of cobalt are +2 and +3. Cobalt compounds are used as pigments in glass and ceramics. It is used as a drying agent for paints, varnishes and inks.

Cobalt sulfate is any sulfate salt of either divalent or trivalent cobalt. Divalent cobalt sulfate anhydrous (CoSO₄) melts at 96.8 C; soluble in methanol. It is used in preparing pigments and other cobalt salts. Trivalent cobalt sulfate [called cobaltic sulfate, Co₂(SO₄)₃] contains trivalent cobalt acts as an oxidizing agent; soluble in sulfuric acid. Cobalt pigment is used in porcelains and glass. Cobalt sulfate is used in storage batteries and electroplating baths. It is used in sympathetic inks and as an additive to soils and animal feeds. It is a raw material to make other cobalt salts.

Cobalt oxide is a metallic pigment that provides blue coloring in porcelains and glass. Various forms of cobalt oxide are changes to CoO at 850 - 900 C. CoO is a grayish brown powder that decomposes at 1935 C, insoluble in water. It is also used as a drying agent in inks and varnishes and as a feed and fertilizer additive. Cobalt carbonate has same coloring application as it decomposes to cobalt oxide at high temperature. Cobalt carbonate tends to disperse better in a glaze but can produce blisters because of the CO2 gas presence at high temperature. Commercial grades of cobalt carbonate are the complex of carbonate and hydroxide such as cobalt carbonate hydroxide (1:1) (CAS RN: 12069-68-0), Cobalt carbonate hydroxide (2:3) (CAS RN: 12602-23-2), and cobalt carbonate hydroxide (2:3) monohydrate (CAS RN: 51839-24-8).

Cobalt blue is a green-blue inorganic pigment consisting of alumina and cobalt oxide. Chemically it is a cobalt(II) oxide-aluminium oxide It is also known as cobalt ultramarine and king's blue. It is the reaction product of calcination at high tmeperature. Cobalt (II) oxide and aluminum oxide are homogeneously and ionically interdiffused with trace amount of modifiers (MgO, ZnO, Li2O, or TiO2) to form a crystalline matrix of spinel. Cobalt blue pigment products are acid/alkalai resistant and are extremely heat stable. They have excellent weatherability and lightfastness. Cobalt oxide is a pigment used in ceramics and glass. Artists use cobalt blue for the high quality blue. Cobalt blue is used as a colorant and optical whitening agent for plastics, rubber, inks, paints, cosmetics, detergents, cement, textile and paper.

Cobalt acetate [Co(C₂H₃O₂)₂4H₂O] is a reddish-violet, deliquescent crystal; soluble in water, alcohol, and acids. It is used as a dryer in paint and varnish. Driers are substances put into paint to make dry quickly. They are metallic salts of low-molecular-weight carboxylic acids. Hydrocarbon parts take oxygen in air and metals act as catalyst to speed up the oxidative coating. Cobalt is the most useful. Cobalt acetate is a powerful oxidation catalyst. It is used as a feed additive mineral supplement.

Cobalt nitrate Co(NO₃)₂6H₂O is a red crystalline compound with a melting point of 56 C; soluble in water, ethanol, propanone, and in organic solvents; slightly soluble in aq. ammonia. It is a raw material for the preparation of cobalt pigments and hair dyes. It is used in vitamin preparations. It is used in sympathetic inks, as an additive to soil and animal feed. It is used in the preparation of refining and petrochemical catalysts and metal finishing products. It is used as an antidote for detoxicating cyanide.

Cobalt chloride anhydrous form (CoCl₂ ) is a blue crystal and sublimes when heated; melting point 735 C, boiling point 1049 C. Cobalt chloride anhydrous is hygroscopic. The hydrated forms become purple (dihydrated) and red (hexahydrated) crystals. Cobalt chloride hexahydrate melts at 86.8 C; soluble in water, alcohol and ether. Cobalt chloride is used as a moisture indicator. It is used as a catalyst. Trace amount is used as an additive of fertilizer and feed. It is used as an absorbent for ammonia as the oxidation state +2 [cobalt(II) chloride] easily forms cobalt(III) amine complexes in the presence of ammonia or amines. Cobalt chloride is a starting material to produce organic cobalt compounds and tetrahedral metal complexes. Cobalt(II) chloride forms tetrahedral [CoCl₄]^2- ion when reacted with chloride ion.

Cobalt hydroxide Co(OH)₂ has high cobalt content (61.5%). Commercial catalyst grade has porous structure for high catalyst effect in refining and petrochemical. It is used as a dryer in paint and varnish.

APPEARANCE

reddish crystal

Co CONTENT

61.5% min