Periodic Table Group and Classification of the of the Hafnium Element Elements can be classified based on their physical states (States of Matter) e.g. gas, solid or liquid. This element is a solid. Hafnium is classified as a "Transition Metal" which are located in Groups 3 - 12 of the Periodic Table. Elements classified as Transition Metals are generally described as ductile, malleable, and able to conduct electricity and heat.Nearly 75% of all the elements in the Periodic Table are classified as metals which are detailed in the List of Metals. Facts about the History and the Discovery of the Hafnium Element Hafnium was discovered by Dirk Coster and Georg von Hevesy in 1923 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Found in zircon through X-ray spectroscope analysis in Norway. First separated from zirconium through re-crystallization of double ammonium or Potassium fluorides by Jantzen and von Hevesey. Metallic Hafnium was first prepared by Anton Eduard van Arkel and Jan Hendrik deBoer. Associated with zirconium by using the Bohr theory. History of the Periodic Table Check out the brief History of the Periodic Table which details dates and the names of famous scientists and chemists who contributed to the development of the Periodic Table. Occurrence of the Hafnium Element Does not exist as a free element in nature Obtained from zircon Found combined in natural zirconium compounds and minerals such as alvite Abundances of the element in different environments % in Universe 7×10-8% % in Sun 1×10-7% % in Meteorites 0.000017% % in Earth's Crust 0.00033% % in Oceans 8×10-10% % in Humans N/A Associated Uses of Hafnium Nuclear reactors Hafnium reactor The Hafnium bomb Used in incandescent lamps Tungsten filaments |