Week Three, Cobalt

Cobalt, atomic number 27, is a hard and grey metal. Cobalt has been used for a long time as a pigment, but was not officially discovered until 1735 by Georg Brandt. Cobalt is a ferromagnetic metal that is found in small traces in rocks and soil, but is most commonly formed as a by-product of nickel and copper mining. Cobalt is most commonly used to make alloys that are resistant to wear and high-strength. For example, cobalt aluminates are used to color glass, ceramics, and paints a deep blue.