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Tantalum
 Tantalum 
Ta
Atomic Number: 73
Atomic Weight: 180.947
Element Type: Transition Metal
Crystal Structure: Cubic Body Centered
Melting Point: 3017.0°C = 5462.6°F = 3290.15 K
Boiling Point: 5458.0°C = 9856.4°F = 5731.15 K
Critical Temp: °C = °F = K
Atomic Radius: 2.09 Å (Å = Angstrom = 10-10 m)
Covalent Radius: 1.34 Å
Electronegativity: 1.5

History

(Gr. Tantalos, mythological character, father of Niobe) Discovered in 1802 by Ekeberg,but many chemists thought niobium and tantalum were identical elements until Rowe in 1844,and Marignac, in 1866, showed that niobic and tantalic acids were two different acids. Theearly investigators only isolated the impure metal. The first relatively pure ductiletantalum was produced by von Bolton in 1903. Tantalum occurs principally in the mineralcolumbite-tantalite.


Sources

Tantalum ores are found in Australia, Brazil, Mozambique, Thailand, Portugal, Nigeria,Zaire, and Canada.



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