Niobium
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Niobium is a chemical element. It is sometimes named columbium. It has the chemical symbol Nb. It has the atomic number 41. It is a rare metal. Niobium is soft and grey. It is ductile. In chemistry it is placed in a group of metal elements named the transition metals. It is also part of the platinum group.
Niobium was discovered in a variety of a mineral named columbite (now called niobite). Niobite is an ore of niobium]]. Niobium is used in alloys. The most important alloys are used to make special steels and strong welded joints.