On the periodic table, the element with the symbol W, taken from its German name wolfram, is tungsten.
Tungsten has atomic number 74 and is a hard, dense transition metal. Its symbol is unusual because it comes from wolfram, while the English name tungsten comes from Swedish words meaning “heavy stone.” The symbol W is used internationally, including in countries where the element is called tungsten.
Tungsten is famous for its exceptionally high melting point, about 3422 °C, the highest of any pure metal. This makes it useful in high-temperature applications, although many modern light bulbs no longer use tungsten filaments.
A common mix-up is confusing tungsten with tin, whose symbol is Sn from the Latin stannum. Tungsten is also distinct from titanium and tantalum, two other strong metals whose symbols do not use W.