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.