What Is Titanium?
Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22, found within the transition metal block of the periodic table.
A strong, lightweight, corrosion-resistant metal. Biocompatible for medical implants.
As a transition metal in Period 4 and Group 4 (Transition Metals), titanium's placement on the table reflects its electron configuration of [Ar] 3d² 4s², which governs its bonding behavior and the type of compounds it typically forms.
Position on the Periodic Table
Titanium is located in Period 4, the first row to include the transition metals.
Within that row, titanium sits in Group 4 (Transition Metals), alongside elements that share a similar number of valence electrons and, by extension, similar chemical behavior.
This position is not arbitrary — the periodic table was deliberately organized so that an element's row and column reveal its expected reactivity, bonding pattern, and physical state at a glance.
Physical & Chemical Properties
Titanium has an atomic mass of 47.867 u and a density of 4.506 g/cm³. Its melting point is 1668°C and its boiling point is 3287°C.
As a transition metal, titanium conducts electricity and heat well, and its atoms pack into a metallic crystal lattice held together by shared, delocalized electrons.
Electron Configuration Explained
Titanium's electron configuration is [Ar] 3d² 4s², describing how its electrons are distributed across shells and subshells around the nucleus.
Reading the configuration in order shows electrons filling shells of increasing energy, following the standard Aufbau principle that explains how atomic structure builds up across the periodic table.
The outermost (valence) electrons shown in this configuration are what ultimately determine titanium's chemical reactivity and the type of bonds it forms with other elements.
History & Discovery
Titanium was formally discovered in 1791, W. Gregor, identified through the careful isolation and analytical techniques typical of that era's chemical research.
Many elements from this period were anticipated by Dmitri Mendeleev's periodic table, which successfully predicted gaps corresponding to undiscovered elements well before laboratory instruments existed to confirm them directly.
What Is Titanium Used For?
Titanium's specific properties make it useful in several applications, including:
- Aircraft & spacecraft
- Medical implants
- Jewelry
- Pigments (TiO₂)
- Chemical reactors
These uses reflect titanium's underlying classification as a transition metal, since the same properties that define its category in chemistry also determine where it becomes practically useful.
Fun Facts About Titanium
- Titanium is as strong as steel but 45% lighter — and completely corrosion-resistant in seawater.
- Titanium is element number 22 on the periodic table, in Period 4 and Group 4.
- Its standard atomic mass is 47.867 u, calculated from the natural abundance of its isotopes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Titanium's atomic number?
Titanium has atomic number 22.
What is Titanium's chemical symbol?
Titanium's symbol is Ti.
What group and period is Titanium in?
Titanium is in Period 4, Group 4 (Transition Metals).
What is Titanium's atomic mass?
Titanium's standard atomic mass is 47.867 u.