Noun
A rare element of the vanadium group, first found in a variety of the mineral columbite occurring in Connecticut, probably at Haddam. Atomic weight 94.2. Symbol Cb or Nb. Now more commonly called niobium.
Source: Webster's dictionaryIn 1864 and 1865, a series of scientific findings clarified that niobium and columbium were the same element (as distinguished from tantalum), and for a century both names were used interchangeably. Source: Internet
He decided to keep the name tantalum. citation After Friedrich Wöhler confirmed these results, it was thought that columbium and tantalum were the same element. Source: Internet
The latter name is still sometimes used in US industry. citation This was a compromise of sorts; the IUPAC accepted tungsten instead of wolfram in deference to North American usage; and niobium instead of columbium in deference to European usage. Source: Internet
Niobium was officially adopted as the name of the element in 1949, but the name columbium remains in current use in metallurgy in the United States. Source: Internet
The English chemist Charles Hatchett reported a new element similar to tantalum in 1801 and named it columbium. Source: Internet