Tantalum | Chemistry

Toronto District Christian High School, Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada

Tantalum,73, Toronto District Christian High School, Woodbridge ON

Tantalum: The tile that I created for tantalum contains pictures that show a variety of applications. Tantalum is mainly used to produce capacitors and resistors. The tantalum capacitors are ideal for use in personal computers and cell phones. There is a picture of the earth because tantalum is found in minerals in the earth's crust. A light bulb was included because wires made with tantalum are used as filaments for light bulbs until they were replaced by tungsten. The atomic number and symbol are blue because tantalum is a blue-grey colour. A silver wire design is included in the corners of the tile because tantalum is quite ductile and can be made into fine wires.

Natasha VanGurp, Teacher: Vivian Campbell, Toronto District Christian High School, Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada

Atomic properties*

Name:

Tantalum

Symbol:

Ta

Atomic number:

73

Atomic mass:

180.95 amu

Melting point:

3017ºC

Boiling point:

5458ºC

Density:

16.4 g/cm³

Electronegativity:

1.5

# of Isotopes:

2

State:

Solid

Colour:

Grey-blue**

Classification:

Metallic**

* Haynes, W. M. (2011). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 91st edition: http://www.hbcponline.com/ Retrieved April 7, 2011

** Winter, M. (2010). Home of the Periodic Table. Retrieved April 8, 2011, from Web Elements: http://www.webelements.com/