Quick Fun Facts:

- Plants use tantalum when they grow.

-1988 it was $50 per 1 oz.

Comparing Tantalum and Titanium:

- People confuse Tantalum and Titanium here are the differences:

- Titanium makes fire works and Tantalum is used for joint replacement.

- Titanium is named from a Greek word titanos (Titans) and Tantalum is named for the greek king Tantolos

History:

-Discovered in 1802 by Anders Ekeberg

-Separated from Niobium in 1820 by Jons Berzelius

- First made ductile in 1902 by Werner von Bolton

Easy Facts:

-Atomic number: 73

Period: 6

Group: 5b

-Family: Transition Metals

Atomic Mass: 180.9

Tantalum is a heavy, shiny, soft metal. Tantalum can not have chemical attacks under 150º Celsius that is why it is used to contain corrosive chemicals.

Common Uses:

-Joint replacement (see picture above)

-Surgical tools

-Air craft engines

- to contain corrosive Chemicals

This page was made by: Sarah Kane

It's Elementary!

Structure of Tantalum

Hip joint made of Tantalum

Tantalum

Fun Facts about Mining:

Mines for Tantalum are in Australia, Brazil, Mozambique, Thailand, Portugal, Nigeria, Zaire and Canada

Purifying Tantalum is hard because it sticks very closely to Niobium and since they are similar it is hard to get it apart. To separate them you have to inject the ore with Alkali and then soak it in Hydrofluoric acid and then the Niobium and the Tantalum can be separated.