1802: Tantalum - The book of science

Tantalum
Atomic number 73
Rare stuff
Commentary

Uppsala—Anders Gustaf Ekeberg elements

Tantalum

The year after Charles Hatchett discovered niobium,
Anders Gustaf Ekeberg discovered tantalum in tapiolite from Finland.
Identification of tantalum was swept up in the same confusion
because niobium and tantalum are chemically similar
and occur in the same minerals—columbite, tanpiolite, and tantalite
—even though tantalum is twice as dense and heavy as niobium.

Atomic number 73

Contained in some
alloys and superalloys,
tantalum is ductile
and has a high melting point.
Contained in some
capacitors and resistors,
tantalum forms
an oxide surface layer.
Contained in some
orthopedic implants
tantalum is bioinert
and non-magnetic.

Rare stuff

Expensive watches
and bullets for penetrating armor—
everyone wants the power
and ultra quality
of a rare movement
in a rare tantalum case
and so may overlook
hidden costs.

The Congo has the resource curse; continued dependence on niobium and tantalum by wealthy nations perpetuates violence and corruption in poor nations.

See also in The book of science:

1801—Niobium—London—Charles Hatchett
1869—Periodic table—Dmitri Mendeleev

Readings on wikipedia:

“Anders Gustaf Ekeberg”
“Tantalum”
“Isotopes of tantalum”
“Tapiolite”
“Tantalite”
“Coltan”
“Conflict resource”
“Timeline of chemical element discoveries”

Other readings:

“Tantalum,” Elementymology & Elements Multidict, by Peter van der Krogt
“Mineral Species containing Tantalum (Ta),” Mineralogy Database, David Barthelmy