tungsteno

Tungsteno is the Spanish word for the chemical element tungsten, which has the symbol W and atomic number 74. It is a hard, brittle, silvery-white metal at room temperature. Tungsten is known for its exceptionally high melting point, the highest of all pure elements, at 3,422 degrees Celsius (6,192 degrees Fahrenheit). This property makes it invaluable in high-temperature applications.

The metal is found in nature primarily in the minerals wolframite and scheelite. It is extracted through a complex refining process. Due to its hardness and high melting point, pure tungsten is difficult to work with. It is often alloyed with other metals to improve its ductility and other properties.

Tungsten has numerous industrial uses. Its most common application is in the filaments of incandescent light bulbs, though this use has declined with the advent of LED technology. It is also used in high-speed cutting tools, drill bits, electrodes, and in the production of wear-resistant alloys like cemented carbide. In military applications, tungsten is used in armor-piercing projectiles due to its density and hardness.

Tungsten compounds also have various uses. For example, tungsten carbide is extremely hard and is used in cutting tools and wear parts. Sodium tungstate is used in dyeing and printing textiles, and as a fire retardant. The element's name, tungsten, comes from the Swedish words "tung sten," meaning "heavy stone," referring to the density of the mineral scheelite. In many languages, including Spanish, it is known by the name wolfram, derived from the mineral wolframite.