Tantalum

Metal

Symbol: Ta
Atomic number: 73
Atomic mass: 180.9479
Group: Transition Metal
CAS-number: 7440-25-7

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Electronic data

Shells: 2, 8, 18, 32, 11, 2
Orbitals: [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d³ 6s²
Electronegativity: 1.5, 1.3
1. Ionization potential: 7.89 eV
2. Ionization potential: -- eV
3. Ionization potential: -- eV
Oxidation states: 5
Electrical conductivity: 0.0761 10^6

Thermal data

Melting point: 2996 °C
Boiling point: 5425 °C ±100
Specific heat: 0.14 J/gK
Heat of fusion: 31.60 kJ/mol
Heat of vaporization: 743.0 kJ/mol
Thermal conductivity: 0.575 W/cmK

Steric data

Atomic radius: 2.09 Å
Ionic radius: 0.64 Å (+5)
Covalent radius: 1.34 Å
Atomic volume: 10.90 cm³/mol
Density (293 K): 16.6 g/cm³
Crystal structure: cubic body centered

Nuclide	Abundance [%]	Mass	Spin	Halflife	Decay mode	Decay tree
¹⁷⁹Ta	0	179	7/2	1.8y	EC	View
¹⁸⁰Ta	0.012	179.948	9	>1.2E15y	EC, β+	View
¹⁸¹Ta	99.988	180.948	7/2	--	--
¹⁸²Ta	0	182	3	114.43d	β-	View

Name origin:	From king Tantalus of Greek mythology, father of Niobe.
Description:	Rare, gray, heavy, hard but ductile, metal with a high melting point.
Discovered by:	Anders Ekeberg
Year:	1802
Place:	Sweden
Sources:	Chiefly occurs in the mineral tantalite. Always found with niobium.
Use(s):	Often used as an economical substitute for platinum. Tantalum pentoxide is used in capacitors and in camera lenses to increase refracting power. It and its alloys are corrosion and wear resistant so it is used to make surgical and dental tools.

Tantalum

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