Sulfide or laterite ore is leached; Co is split from Ni by solvent extraction (Cyanex or D2EHPA), and Co3O4 is reduced with hydrogen or aluminum to metal.
Research Elements Co · atomic number 27 Transition metal · period 4, group 9 [Ar] 3d7 4s2 Shells: 2, 8, 15, 2 Valence electrons: 2 in the outer shell (4s2), and 7 in 3d7 Green dots are the outer shell's s and p electrons. Softer green dots are the d electrons of transition metals, and the d and f electrons of lanthanides and actinides: they often take part in bonding, but not always. Grey dots are the core. Ground-state configuration from the NIST Atomic Spectra Database (A. Kramida, Yu. Ralchenko, J. Reader and the NIST ASD Team). Abundance is the mole fraction of the element found as that isotope on Earth; digits in parentheses are the uncertainty in the last digits. Masses and abundances from NIST, Atomic Weights and Isotopic Compositions (J. S. Coursey, D. J. Schwab, J. J. Tsai and R. A. Dragoset, National Institute of Standards and Technology).Cobalt
Electrons
How it's obtained
Natural isotopes
Isotope Relative atomic mass Abundance 59Co 58.93319429(56) 1