(So named (Greek Niobe) in 1844 by Heinrich Rose because of its close relationship with tantalum) A gray or white, metallic chemical element, somewhat ductile and malleable, used in steel alloys, superconducting alloys, in jet engines and rockets, etc.

Symbol: Nb
Atomic number: 41
Atomic weight: 92.90638
Density (at room temperature and pressure): 8.57 g/cc
Melting point: 2,468°C
Boiling point: 4,740°C
Valence: +3, +5
Ground state electron configuration: [Kr]4d45s1