tung·sten (t ng st n)n. Symbol W A hard, brittle, corrosion-resistant, gray to white metallic element extracted from wolframite, scheelite, and other minerals, having the highest melting point and lowest vapor pressure of any metal. Tungsten and its alloys are used in high-temperature structural materials; in electrical elements, notably lamp filaments; and in instruments requiring thermally compatible glass-to-metal seals. Atomic number 74; atomic weight 183.84; melting point 3,410°C; boiling point 5,900°C; specific gravity 19.3 (20°C); valence 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Also called wolfram. See Table at element. [Swedish : tung, heavy (from Old Norse thungr) + sten, stone (from Old Norse steinn; see st  i- in Indo-European roots).]tung·sten ic (-st n k) adj. |
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