Bieberite; Cobalt(II) Sulfate (1:1) Heptahydrate;
Cobaltous sulfate, heptahydrate; Cobalt
monosulfate, heptahydrate;
Sulfuric acid, cobalt salt, heptahydrate; sulfuric acid, cobalt(2+) salt (1:1),
heptahydrate; |
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)3S4], skutterudite
[(Co,Ni,Fe)As3],
and smaltite [(Co,Fe,Ni)As2]. 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).
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