Ta
Tantalum
Element 73 · Transition metal
Tantalum (Ta)
Tantalum is a dense, blue-grey, highly corrosion-resistant metal. Tantalum capacitors are found in almost every phone.
- Transition metal
- Period 6
- Group 5
- d-block
- solid at room temperature
Key properties
- Atomic mass
- 180.9479
- u
- Electron configuration
- [Xe] 4f14 5d3 6s2
- Melting point
- 3,016.9 °C
- 3,290 K
- Boiling point
- 5,457.9 °C
- 5,731 K
- Density
- 16.4 g/cm³
- Electronegativity
- 1.5
- Pauling
- Atomic radius
- 217 pm
- van der Waals
- 1st ionisation energy
- 7.89 eV
Compare with every element:Electronegativity chartAtomic radius chartIonisation energy chartDensity chart of the elementsMelting point chartElectron configuration chart
Did you know?
Notable facts about tantalum
- 01
Tantalum is mined from coltan, a mineral linked to conflict in Central Africa.
- 02
The body does not react to tantalum, so it is used in implants and surgical clips.
- 03
Tantalum-180m is the rarest naturally occurring isotope that has never been observed to decay.
Applications
What is tantalum used for?
- Capacitors in electronics
- Surgical implants
- Chemical equipment
- Jet engine superalloys
History
Discovery & name origin
Discovered by
Year
Where
Sweden
Name origin
From Tantalus of Greek myth — it “thirsts” but does not absorb acid.
Atomic structure
Atomic properties
Atomic structure
Atomic properties
- Atomic number
- 73
- Atomic mass
- 180.9479 u
- Group
- 5
- Period
- 6
- Block
- d-block
- Electron configuration
- [Xe] 4f14 5d3 6s2
- Full configuration
- 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f14 5d3
- Electrons per shell
- 2, 8, 18, 32, 11, 2
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 1.5
- Electron affinity
- 0.322 eV
- Atomic radius (van der Waals)
- 217 pm
- Stable isotopes
- 1
Oxidation states
Highlighted: common oxidation states (+5).
Successive ionisation energies
Energy to remove each electron in turn (kJ/mol). Big jumps show where a new, inner shell begins.
- 1st761
- 2nd1,500
Physical
Physical properties & colour
Physical
Physical properties & colour
- State at 20 °C
- Solid
- Melting point
- 3,290 K · 3,016.9 °C · 5,462.3 °F
- Boiling point
- 5,731 K · 5,457.9 °C · 9,856.1 °F
- Density
- 16.4 g/cm³
- Molar heat capacity
- 25.36 J/(mol·K)
- Appearance
- Grey blue
- CPK model colour
- Copied
The CPK colour is the convention used for this element’s atoms in molecular models.
FAQ
Tantalum questions
What is Ta on the periodic table?
Ta is the symbol for tantalum, element 73 on the periodic table. It sits in group 5, period 6, in the transition metal category, and has an atomic mass of 180.9479.
What is the atomic number of tantalum?
Tantalum has atomic number 73, so every tantalum atom has 73 protons in its nucleus. Its symbol is Ta and its atomic mass is 180.9479.
Who discovered tantalum?
Tantalum was discovered by Anders Gustaf Ekeberg in 1802 (Sweden). The name comes from from Tantalus of Greek myth — it “thirsts” but does not absorb acid.
What is tantalum used for?
Tantalum is used for: capacitors in electronics; surgical implants; chemical equipment; jet engine superalloys.
Is tantalum a metal?
Yes. Tantalum is a transition metal, one of the metallic elements.
What is the electron configuration of tantalum?
The electron configuration of tantalum is [Xe] 4f14 5d3 6s2. Its 73 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 8, 18, 32, 11, 2.