Titanium. Bars of titanium, a metal used in a large number of strong, light, corrosion- resistant alloys for the construction of vehicles, industrial equipment and medical implants. Titanium is a white, brittle transition metal. It is obtained from the minerals rutile (titanium dioxide) and ilmenite (iron titanium oxide). The element was first discovered by Willaim Gregor in 1789. It was given the name titanium by Klaproth in 1795. Titanium has the chemical symbol Ti.