Ta
Tantalum is a rare, hard metal used in electronic capacitors found in every smartphone.
Physical Properties
| Atomic Mass | 180.95 u |
| Density | 16.654 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 3290.0 K |
| Boiling Point | 5731.0 K |
| Appearance | Gray blue metallic |
| State at Room Temp | Solid |
Chemical Properties
| Electronegativity | 1.5 (Pauling) |
| 1st Ionization Energy | 761.0 kJ/mol |
| Electron Affinity | 31.0 kJ/mol |
| Oxidation States | +2, +3, +4, +5 |
Atomic Properties
| Electron Configuration | [Xe] 4f14 5d3 6s2 |
| Atomic Radius | 146.0 pm |
| Covalent Radius | 170.0 pm |
| Van der Waals Radius | 217.0 pm |
Discovery
| Discovered By | Anders Gustaf Ekeberg |
| Discovery Year | 1802 |
| Location | Uppsala, Sweden |
| Named After | King Tantalus of Greek mythology |
About Tantalum
Tantalum is a hard, blue-gray, lustrous metal that has the fourth-highest melting point. It is almost immune to chemical attack below 150 degrees C and is biocompatible.
Uses & Applications
Electronic capacitors (mobile phones, computers), surgical implants, jet engine components, and chemical equipment.
Fun Fact
Tantalum capacitors are in virtually every smartphone. Mining of coltan (tantalum ore) has been linked to conflict in the Congo.
Isotopes
| Mass Number | Abundance | Half-Life | Stable |
| 180 | 0.0001201% | - | Yes |
| 181 | 0.9998799% | - | Yes |
Electron Configuration
[Xe] 4f14 5d3 6s2