Ta
Tantalum180.94788 (2)
Niobium was discovered in 1802 by Anders Gustaf Ekeberg, but many chemists thought niobium and tantalum were one and the same. Some felt that perhaps tantalum was an allotrope of niobium. Later, Rose, in 1844, and Marignac, in 1866, showed that niobic and tantalic acids were two different acids.
- Name: Tantalum
- Symbol: Ta
- Atomic number: 73
- Atomic weight: 180.94788 (2)
- Standard state: solid at 298 K
- Group in periodic table: 5
- Group name:none
- Period in periodic table: 6
- Block in periodic table: d-block
- Classification: Metallic
- used to make steels
- were those used first for light bulbs (now tungsten is preferred)
- used to make special glass with a high index of refraction
Tantalum is a greyish silver, heavy, and very hard metal. When pure, it is ductile and can be drawn into fine wire, which can be used as a filament for evaporating metals such as aluminium.