MCQ Detailed View

Tungsten is a transition metal in the periodic table, with atomic number 74. Its most recognized property is its extremely high melting point (3422 °C), the highest of all metals, which makes it indispensable in many industrial applications.

The chemical symbol of Tungsten is W, not T or Tu, because the symbol is derived from its historical name “Wolfram.” In German, the element was called “Wolfram” due to its association with the mineral wolframite, from which it was first extracted. When chemical symbols were standardized, W was chosen to represent Tungsten instead of a symbol based on its English name.

Key Properties of Tungsten:

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  Atomic number: 74

  
  


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  Symbol: W

  
  


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  Atomic weight: 183.84 u

  
  


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  Density: 19.3 g/cm³ (very dense, similar to gold)

  
  


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  Melting point: 3422 °C

  
  


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  Boiling point: 5555 °C

  
  

Applications of Tungsten:

1. 
   

   Electrical Industry – Tungsten filaments are used in incandescent light bulbs because of their high resistance to heat.

   
   


2. 
   

   Alloys – It is used to make hard alloys like tungsten carbide (WC), which is employed in cutting tools and drilling equipment.

   
   


3. 
   

   Aerospace & Military – Tungsten’s density and strength make it useful in armor-piercing projectiles and aerospace parts.

   
   


4. 
   

   Medical Applications – Used in radiation shielding due to its density.

   
   

Why Symbol W?

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  English name: Tungsten (from Swedish “tung sten” = heavy stone).

  
  


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  German name: Wolfram → gave rise to the symbol W.

  
  

Thus, although the English name is Tungsten, the official symbol remains W, reflecting its historical roots.