| Name | Tantalum |
| Symbol | Ta |
| Atomic Number | 73 |
| Atomic Mass | 180,94788 u |
| Density | 16,65 g/cm³ (bei 20°C) |
| Melting Point | 3290 K (3017°C) |
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Facts About Tantalum
The chemical element Tantalum is represented by the symbol Ta. With atomic number 73, it is found in Group 5 of the periodic table, also known as the vanadium group. This relatively rare, graphite-gray, shiny transition metal is ductile. A typical application includes electrolytic capacitors with high capacity and small size.
History of Tantalum
In 1802, Anders Gustav Ekeberg discovered tantalum in Finland (Kimito) and Sweden (Ytterby). The metal is named after a figure from Greek mythology due to its resistance to acids. In Massachusetts in the same year, Charles Hatchett found an unknown element, which he named Columbium. In 1809, William Hyde Wollaston compared oxides derived from the ores and determined that it was the same element in different oxidation states.
Heinrich Rose re-examined the findings and, in 1844, proved that there were two distinct elements in columbite and tantalite ores. Jöns Jakob Berzelius produced elemental tantalum in 1824 by reducing potassium heptafluorotantalate with potassium, though the metal was only 50% pure. Henri Moissan later attempted to produce tantalum in an electric furnace but found the resulting material to be hard and brittle due to carbon contamination.
Uses of Tantalum
Tantalum was used as a filament in incandescent lamps due to its easier processing compared to the previously used osmium and its higher operating temperature of up to 2300 °C. Later, tantalum was replaced by tungsten, which, in addition to having a higher melting point, also allows for greater luminous efficiency.
Production and Occurrence of Tantalum
Tantalum is rare on Earth, with a frequency comparable to arsenic or germanium. It is the rarest stable element in our solar system. Tantalum occurs only in the form of its compounds in various minerals and is always found together with niobium. To extract tantalum, it must first be separated from niobium.
In 1866, Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac developed the first process for this purpose. Tantalum is a high-melting, heavy metal with a Vickers hardness of 60-120 HV. Its properties closely resemble those of niobium. With a melting point of 3000°C, tantalum has the highest melting point of any element, except tungsten, carbon, and rhenium. The material becomes superconducting below a transition temperature of 4.5 Kelvin. It reacts with non-metals such as oxygen, halogens, and carbon, forming a thin tantalum oxide layer that protects and passivates the material.
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Tantalum’s biocompatibility makes it ideal for medical technology, where it is used for tools, prosthetics, bone nails, dental screws, and clips. Its corrosion resistance is highly valued in the chemical industry, where it is typically used as a lining material for reaction vessels, heat exchangers, and pumps. To facilitate processing, tantalum is often alloyed with tungsten rather than used in its pure form.
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