Appearance Tungsten metal is silvery-white and lustrous, but the element is usually obtained as a grey powder. The principal tungsten containing ores are scheelite and wolframite. Commercially, the metal is obtained by reducing tungsten oxide with hydrogen or carbon. Uses Tungsten and its alloys are used extensively for filaments for electric lamps, electron tubes and television tubes. As it has the highest melting point of all metals it is used in numerous high-temperature applications.
Tungsten carbide is of great importance to the metal-working, mining and petroleum industries.
Calcium and magnesium tungstates are widely used in fluorescent lighting. Biological Role Tungsten has no known biological role, and has low toxicity. General Information Tungsten has the highest melting point and lowest vapour pressure of all metals, and at temperatures over 1650K has the highest tensile strength. The metal resists attack by oxygen, acids and alkalis.