Tantalum

Atomic Number-73 Atomic Mass-180.948 Group 5 Period 6 Protons-73 Electron-73 Neutron-108 Electron Configuration-(Xe) 4F 14 5d 3 6s 2
 * __ Becky Oh: Tantalum __** Tantalum-(TAN-te-lum)

Tantalum was first discovered in 1802 by Anders Gustaf Ekenburg. The name for tantalum came from Tantalus in Greek mythology, who was Niobe's father. Many people believed they were the same element, however Heinrich Rose found that the acid's made from the two elements differed. The element was not finalized until 1866. Tantalum is a shiny gray-blue metal that is heavy and but ductile. (Capable of being made into thin wires.) It resembles the most expensive platinum. Melting point of 2996 o C and boiling point of 5425 o C. Density is 16.65 g/cm 3. **Chemical Properties** Tantalum does not react with many chemicals. Reacts with fluorine gas and compounds at room temperature. At higher temperatures, tantalum becomes more active and reacts with acids and alkalis. (Chemical opposite of an add.) ​**Uses** It is used in substituion for applications that require platinum metal. It is used in making of capacitors, similar to a battery. Found in over thousands of electronic devices. An alloy can be made by melting and mixing tantalum with another metal. Found in many surgical and dental tools. Tantalum alloys are also used medically for skull implants, artificial hips, knees and devices to hold bones together. It was used to produce the ultra high requency electron tubes for radio transmitters and also index glasses for cameras. **Forms** ​There are many different types of forms found on Earth. It is found in multiple numbers of compounds and mixtures. Tantalum is combined with hydrides, flourides, chlorides, bromides, iodides, oxides, sulfides, selenides, tellurides, nitrides and carbonyls to form compounds. Found in minerals tantalite and euxenite.This is found mostly in South America, Africa and Spain but the United States cosume the most of it. There are many isotopes of Tantalum, ranging from Ta155 to Ta188, however only two isotopes of tantalum occur in nature. 180 Ta and 181 Ta. The difference between these are that the 180 decays while 181 is stable. The most common radioactive isotope is 180 Ta. It decays in the form of beta decay to form the element tungsten (74W).
 * History **
 * Physical Properties **
 * Isotopes **

[] [] (picture 1) [] [] (picture 2) [] Exploring Chemical Element and Their Compound by David L. Heiserman