tantalum [Ta]

Introduction

Named after Tantalus of Greek mythology. Discovered in 1802 by Swedish chemist Anders Gustav Ekeberg.

Occurrence

• found combined in rare minerals
  • columbite, tantalite & euxenite

Characteristics

• hard ductile gray-white acid-resisting metallic element of the vanadium family
• very similar chemically to niobium

Uses

• capacitors
• tantalum carbide is used in cutting tools

More general terms

• chemical element
• metal

Additional terms

• periodic table

Database

• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=23956