Name       : Cobalt 
Symbol     : Co
Atomic #   : 27
Atom weight: 58.9332
Melting P. : 1857
Boiling P. : 2672
Oxidation  : +2, +3
Pronounced : KO-bolt
From       : German kobold, "goblin"
Identified : Compounds known in anicent times  
Appearance : Hard, ductile, lustrous bluish-gray metal
Note       : A fourth of the world's cobalt production goes into making
             powerful permanent magnets

[Properties]

  Cobalt is a silvery-white, brittle metal that has a slight bluish color
when polished. Cobalt stands between iron (Fe) and nickel (Ni) on the 
periodic table. These three metals are similar in many respects and are
usually found together in ore deposits.
  This element is best known for its remarkable magnetic properties. Like
iron, cobalt is easily magnetized and readily retains its magnetism under
a wide range of environmental conditions. In fact, one-fourth of the
world's cobalt production is used in a "super magnet" alloy known as
alnico, aluminum-nickel-cobalt.
  Cobalt has the highest Curie point of any known metal or alloy. The
Curie point is the temperature at which a metal loses its magnetic
properties, usually just a bit below the melting point. In the case of
Cobalt, the Curie point is 1121 degrees.
  Cobalt has two common allotropes. The one that is stable at room
temperature, the beta form, has a close-packed hexagonal crystalline
structure. Teh transition to the alpha form, one having a face-centered
cubic structure, takes place at about 417 degrees.
