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Periodic Table of Elements

Element Tantalum – Ta

Comprehensive data on the chemical element Tantalum is provided on this page; including scores of properties, element names in many languages, most known nuclides of Tantalum. Common chemical compounds are also provided for many elements. In addition technical terms are linked to their definitions and the menu contains links to related articles that are a great aid in one studies. Using the "Periodic Table of Elements Quick Navigation" graphic at the bottom of the sidebar menu, one can quickly jump from chemical element to chemical element.

Tantalum Menu

• Tantalum Page One
  • Overview of Tantalum
  • Tantalum's Name in Other Languages
  • Atomic Structure of Tantalum
  • Chemical Properties of Tantalum
  • Physical Properties of Tantalum
  • Regulatory / Health
  • Who/When/Where/How
• Tantalum Page Two
  • Nuclides / Isotopes
  • Potential Parent Nuclides
• Tantalum Page Three
  • Common Chemical Compounds of Tantalum

Overview of Tantalum

• Atomic Number:73
• Group: 5
• Period: 6
• Series: Transition Metals

Tantalum's Name in Other Languages

• Latin: Tantalum
• Czech: Tantal
• Croatian: Tantal
• French: Tantale
• German: Tantal - r
• Italian: Tantalio
• Norwegian: Tantal
• Portuguese: Tantálio
• Russian:
• Spanish: Tántalo
• Swedish: Tantal

Atomic Structure of Tantalum

• Atomic Radius: 2.09Å
• Atomic Volume: 10.9cm³/mol
• Covalent Radius: 1.34Å
• Cross Section (Thermal Neutron Capture) _a/barns: 20.6
• Crystal Structure: Cubic body centered

  

• Electron Configuration:

  1s² 2s²p⁶ 3s²p⁶d¹⁰ 4s²p⁶d¹⁰f¹⁴ 5s²p⁶d³ 6s²

• Electrons per Energy Level: 2,8,18,32,11,2

  Shell Model
  

• Ionic Radius: 0.64Å
• Filling Orbital: 5d³
• Number of Electrons (with no charge): 73
• Number of Neutrons (most common/stable nuclide): 108
• Number of Protons: 73
• Oxidation States: 5
• Valence Electrons: 5d³ 6s²

  Electron Dot Model
  

Chemical Properties of Tantalum

• Electrochemical Equivalent: 1.3502g/amp-hr
• Electron Work Function: 4.25eV
• Electronegativity: 1.5 (Pauling); 1.33 (Allrod Rochow)
• Heat of Fusion: 31.6kJ/mol
• Incompatibilities:

  Strong oxidizers, bromine trifluoride, fluorine

• Ionization Potential
  • First: 7.89
• Valence Electron Potential (-eV): 110

Physical Properties of Tantalum

• Atomic Mass Average: 180.9479
• Boiling Point: 5698K 5425°C 9797°F
• Coefficient of lineal thermal expansion/K^-1: 6.6E^-6
• Conductivity

  Electrical: 0.0761 10⁶/cm
  Thermal: 0.575 W/cmK

• Density: 16.65g/cc @ 300K
• Description:

  Rare gray metal with a high melting point, which resists corrosion due to an oxide film that forms on its surface.

• Elastic Modulus:
  • Bulk: 196.3/GPa
  • Rigidity: 69.2/GPa
  • Youngs: 185.7/GPa
• Enthalpy of Atomization: 782 kJ/mole @ 25°C
• Enthalpy of Fusion: 31.4 kJ/mole
• Enthalpy of Vaporization: 753.1 kJ/mole
• Flammablity Class: Combustible Solid, fine dust is easily ignited
• Freezing Point: see melting point
• Hardness Scale
  • Brinell: 800 MN m^-2
  • Mohs: 6.5
  • Vickers: 873 MN m^-2
• Heat of Vaporization: 743kJ/mol
• Melting Point: 3269K 2996°C 5425°F
  
• Molar Volume: 10.9 cm³/mole
• Optical Reflectivity: 78%
• Physical State (at 20°C & 1atm): Solid
• Specific Heat: 0.14J/gK
• Vapor Pressure = 0.776Pa@2996°C

Regulatory / Health

• CAS Number
  • 7440-25-7
• RTECS: WW5505000
• OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
  • TWA: 5 mg/m³
• OSHA PEL Vacated 1989
  • TWA: 5 mg/m³
• NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)
  • TWA: 5 mg/m³
  • STEL: 10 mg/m³
  • IDLH: 2500 mg/m³
• Routes of Exposure: Inhalation; Skin and/or eye contact
  
• Target Organs: Eyes, skin, respiratory system
  
• Levels In Humans:
  Note: this data represents naturally occuring levels of elements in the typical human, it DOES NOT represent recommended daily allowances.
  • Blood/mg dm^-3: n/a
  • Bone/p.p.m: 0.03
  • Liver/p.p.m: n/a
  • Muscle/p.p.m: n/a
  • Daily Dietary Intake: 0.001 mg
  • Total Mass In Avg. 70kg human: 0.2 mg

Who / Where / When / How

• Discoverer: Anders G. Ekeberg
• Discovery Location: Uppsala Sweden
• Discovery Year: 1802
• Name Origin:

  From king Tantalus of Greek mythology.

• Abundance of Tantalum:
  • Earth's Crust/p.p.m.: 2
  • Seawater/p.p.m.: 0.000002
  • Atmosphere/p.p.m.: N/A
  • Sun (Relative to H=1E¹²): N/A
• Sources of Tantalum:

  Chiefly occurs in the mineral tantalite. Always found with niobium. Annual world production is around 840 tons. Primary mining areas are Australia, Zaire, Brazil, Russia, Norway, Canada and Madagascar.

• Uses of Tantalum:

  Used in metal alloys. Tantalum pentoxide is used in capacitors, condensers, cutting tools, vacuum tube filaments and in camera lenses to increase refracting power.

• Additional Notes:

[Last update: 2/22/2007]

Tantalum Menu

• Tantalum Page One
  • Overview of Tantalum
  • Tantalum's Name in Other Languages
  • Atomic Structure of Tantalum
  • Chemical Properties of Tantalum
  • Physical Properties of Tantalum
  • Regulatory / Health
  • Who/When/Where/How
• Tantalum Page Two
  • Nuclides / Isotopes
  • Potential Parent Nuclides
• Tantalum Page Three
  • Common Chemical Compounds of Tantalum

Related Resources

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• Molar Mass Calculations and Javascript Calculator
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• Chemical Database
  This database focuses on the most common chemical compounds used in the home and industry.

Citing this page

If you need to cite this page, you can copy this text:

Kenneth Barbalace. Periodic Table of Elements - Tantalum – Ta. EnvironmentalChemistry.com. 1995 - 2009. Accessed on-line: 11/20/2009
http://EnvironmentalChemistry.com/yogi/periodic/Ta.html
.