Tantalum

Element 73 on the periodic table, symbol Ta, group 5, period 6.

Tantalum is a chemical element with symbol Ta and atomic number 73. Previously known as tantalium, its name comes from Tantalus, an antihero from Greek mythology. Tantalum is a rare, hard, blue-gray, lustrous transition metal that is highly corrosion-resistant.

Appearance: gray blue

Properties

Atomic Number: 73
Atomic Mass: 180.9479 u
Group: 5
Period: 6
Block: d-block
Category: Transition Metal
State at 25 °C: Solid
Melting Point: 3,290 K · 3,016.9 °C
Boiling Point: 5,731 K · 5,457.9 °C
Density: 16.69 g/cm³
Atomic Radius: 145 pm
Electronegativity: 1.5
Oxidation States: +5
Abundance in Crust: 2 mg/kg
Discovered: 1802
Discovered By: Anders Gustaf Ekeberg

Electron Configuration

[Xe] 4f14 5d3 6s2

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f14 5d3

Ionisation Energies (kJ/mol)

1. 761
2. 1,500

Elements near Tantalum

Elements in the same group share the number of outer electrons and behave in similar ways. Elements in the same period share a shell, so they change steadily from left to right.