What Is Tantalum?
Tantalum, symbol Ta and atomic number 73, belongs to the transition metals — the wide central block known for hardness and multiple oxidation states.
An extremely corrosion-resistant metal. Used in capacitors found in mobile phones.
As a transition metal in Period 6 and Group 5 (Transition Metals), tantalum's placement on the table reflects its electron configuration of [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d³ 6s², which governs its bonding behavior and the type of compounds it typically forms.
Position on the Periodic Table
Tantalum is located in Period 6, an unusually long row that includes the entire lanthanide series.
Within that row, tantalum sits in Group 5 (Transition Metals), alongside elements that share a similar number of valence electrons and, by extension, similar chemical behavior.
This position is not arbitrary — the periodic table was deliberately organized so that an element's row and column reveal its expected reactivity, bonding pattern, and physical state at a glance.
Physical & Chemical Properties
Tantalum has an atomic mass of 180.948 u and a density of 16.65 g/cm³. Its melting point is 3017°C and its boiling point is 5458°C.
Tantalum is malleable and ductile in its pure metallic form, and like other transition metals it can typically form more than one stable oxidation state.
Electron Configuration Explained
Tantalum's electron configuration is [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d³ 6s², describing how its electrons are distributed across shells and subshells around the nucleus.
Reading the configuration in order shows electrons filling shells of increasing energy, following the standard Aufbau principle that explains how atomic structure builds up across the periodic table.
The outermost (valence) electrons shown in this configuration are what ultimately determine tantalum's chemical reactivity and the type of bonds it forms with other elements.
History & Discovery
Tantalum was formally discovered in 1802, A.G. Ekeberg, identified through the careful isolation and analytical techniques typical of that era's chemical research.
Many elements from this period were anticipated by Dmitri Mendeleev's periodic table, which successfully predicted gaps corresponding to undiscovered elements well before laboratory instruments existed to confirm them directly.
What Is Tantalum Used For?
Tantalum's specific properties make it useful in several applications, including:
- Mobile phone capacitors
- Surgical implants
- Jet engine parts
- Chemical reactors
- Camera lenses
These uses reflect tantalum's underlying classification as a transition metal, since the same properties that define its category in chemistry also determine where it becomes practically useful.
Fun Facts About Tantalum
- The tantalum in your phone may have come from conflict zones in the DR Congo.
- Tantalum is element number 73 on the periodic table, in Period 6 and Group 5.
- Its standard atomic mass is 180.948 u, calculated from the natural abundance of its isotopes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tantalum's atomic number?
Tantalum has atomic number 73.
What is Tantalum's chemical symbol?
Tantalum's symbol is Ta.
What group and period is Tantalum in?
Tantalum is in Period 6, Group 5 (Transition Metals).
What is Tantalum's atomic mass?
Tantalum's standard atomic mass is 180.948 u.