| Tantalum [Ta] (CAS-ID: 7440-25-7) | |
| An: 73 N: 108 Am: 180.9479 | |
| Group No: 5 Group Name: (none) | |
| Block: d-block Period: 6 | |
| State: solid at 298 K | |
| Colour: grey blue Classification: Metallic | |
| Boiling Point: 5731K (5458'C) | |
| Melting Point: 3290K (3017'C) | |
| Density: 16.69g/cm3 | |
 Discovery Information |
| Who: Anders Ekeberg |
| When: 1802 |
| Where: Sweden |
| Name Origin |
| From king Tantalus of Greek mythology. |
| Sources |
| Chiefly occurs in the mineral tantalite and euxenite (as well as samarskite and fergusonite). Always found with niobium. Tantalum ores are mined in Australia, Brazil, Eqypt, Canada, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Nigeria, Portugal, Malaysia and Thailand. |
| Uses |
| Used in metal alloys. Tantalum pentoxide is used in capacitors, condensers, cutting tools, vacuum tube filaments and in camera lenses to increase refracting power. Because it is totally immune to the action of body liquids and is nonirritating it is widely used in making surgical appliances. |
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