Niobium Valency
Niobium is a transition metal with the symbol Nb and atomic number 41. Its valency, or oxidation state, can vary depending on the chemical compound in which it is found.
In its elemental form, niobium has a valency of zero. In compounds where niobium forms a cation (an ion with a positive charge), its valency can range from +2 to +5. For example, in the compound niobium oxide (Nb2O5), niobium has a valency of +5 because it has lost five electrons to oxygen atoms, which have a higher electronegativity.
It's important to note that niobium can also form anions (ions with a negative charge) in some compounds, and in these cases, its valency would be negative. However, this is less common than niobium forming cations.
Overall, niobium's valency depends on the specific chemical compound it is a part of and whether it is interacting as a cation or an anion.