Volframio

Tungsten, also known as Wolfram, is a chemical element with the symbol W and atomic number 74. It is a rare, hard, and brittle metal that is silvery-white in color. Tungsten has the highest melting point of all pure elements, melting at 3422 degrees Celsius. It also has a very high boiling point, at 5930 degrees Celsius. This remarkable thermal stability, combined with its hardness and density, makes tungsten a valuable material in a variety of applications.

Tungsten is found in nature in mineral forms, primarily in wolframite and scheelite. It is not found freely in the Earth's crust. The extraction and purification of tungsten are complex processes. Historically, the name "Wolfram" was used, derived from the mineral wolframite, which was named for its tendency to "devour" tin during smelting. The symbol W is derived from this German name.

Due to its high melting point and strength, tungsten is widely used in incandescent light bulb filaments, where it glows brightly without melting. It is also used in high-speed cutting tools, drill bits, and other applications requiring extreme hardness and wear resistance. Tungsten alloys are crucial in aerospace and military applications, such as in armor-piercing projectiles and high-temperature turbine components. Its high density also makes it useful for counterweights and radiation shielding. In medicine, tungsten alloys are used in X-ray targets and some medical implants.