Editing Titanium (section)

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'''Titanium''' is a [[chemical element]]; it has [[Symbol (chemistry)|symbol]] '''Ti''' and [[atomic number]] 22. Found in nature only as an [[oxide]], it can be reduced to produce a lustrous [[transition metal]] with a silver [[color]], low [[density]], and high strength, resistant to [[corrosion]] in [[sea water]], [[aqua regia]], and [[chlorine]].

Titanium was discovered in [[Cornwall]], [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]], by [[William Gregor]] in 1791 and was named by [[Martin Heinrich Klaproth]] after the [[Titan (mythology)|Titans]] of [[Greek mythology]]. The element occurs within a number of [[mineral]]s, principally [[rutile]] and [[ilmenite]], which are widely distributed in the [[Earth's crust]] and [[lithosphere]]; it is found in almost all living things, as well as bodies of water, rocks, and soils.<ref name="EBC" /> The metal is extracted from its principal mineral ores by the [[Kroll process|Kroll]] and [[Hunter process|Hunter]] processes.<ref name="LANL" /> The most common compound, [[titanium dioxide]] (TiO<sub>2</sub>), is a popular [[photocatalysis|photocatalyst]] and is used in the manufacture of white pigments.<ref name="HistoryAndUse">{{cite book|last=Krebs|first=Robert E.|title=The History and Use of Our Earth's Chemical Elements: A Reference Guide|edition=2nd|publisher=Greenwood Press|location=[[Westport, CT]]|isbn=978-0-313-33438-2|year=2006|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yb9xTj72vNAC}}</ref> Other compounds include [[titanium tetrachloride]] (TiCl<sub>4</sub>), a component of [[smoke screen]]s and [[catalyst]]s; and [[Titanium(III) chloride|titanium trichloride]] (TiCl<sub>3</sub>), which is used as a catalyst in the production of [[polypropylene]].<ref name="EBC" />

Titanium can be [[alloy]]ed with [[iron]], [[aluminium]], [[vanadium]], and [[molybdenum]], among other elements. The resulting [[titanium alloys]] are strong, lightweight, and versatile, with applications including aerospace ([[jet engine]]s, [[missile]]s, and [[spacecraft]]), military, industrial processes (chemicals and petrochemicals, [[desalination plant]]s, [[Pulp (paper)|pulp]], and [[paper]]), automotive, [[agriculture]] (farming), sporting goods, jewelry, and [[consumer electronics]].<ref name="EBC" /> Titanium is also considered one of the most [[Biocompatibility|biocompatible]] metals, leading to a range of medical applications including [[prostheses]], [[orthopedic implant]]s, [[dental implant]]s, and [[surgical instrument]]s.<ref name="Medical University 2022 v636">{{cite web | last1=Medical | first1=Tokyo | last2=University | first2=Dental | title=Exploring what gives titanium implants their remarkable biocompatibility | website=Phys.org | date=2022-05-24 | url=https://phys.org/news/2022-05-exploring-titanium-implants-remarkable-biocompatibility.html | access-date=2024-05-02}}</ref>

The two most useful properties of the metal are corrosion resistance and [[Specific strength|strength-to-density ratio]], the highest of any metallic element.<ref>{{harvnb|Donachie|1988|p=11}}</ref> In its unalloyed condition, titanium is as strong as some [[steel]]s, but less dense.<ref name="Barksdale1968p738">{{harvnb|Barksdale|1968|p=738}}</ref> There are two [[allotropy|allotropic]] forms<ref name="TICE6th" /> and five naturally occurring [[isotope]]s of this element, [[isotopes of titanium|{{sup|46}}Ti]] through {{sup|50}}Ti, with {{sup|48}}Ti being the most [[natural abundance|abundant]] (73.8%).<ref name="EnvChem">{{cite web |url=http://environmentalchemistry.com/yogi/periodic/Ti-pg2.html#Nuclides |title=Periodic Table of Elements: Ti – Titanium |access-date=26 December 2006 |author=Barbalace, Kenneth L. |year=2006}}</ref>