tantalum

American  

[tan-tl-uhm] / ˈtæn tl əm /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a gray, hard, rare, metallic element occurring in columbite and tantalite and usually associated with niobium: used, because of its resistance to corrosion by most acids, for chemical, dental, and surgical instruments and apparatus. Ta; 180.948; 73; 16.6.

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tantalum British  

/ ˈtæntələm /

noun

1. a hard greyish-white metallic element that occurs with niobium in tantalite and columbite: used in electrical capacitors in most circuit boards and in alloys to increase hardness and chemical resistance, esp in surgical instruments. Symbol: Ta; atomic no: 73; atomic wt: 180.9479; valency: 2, 3, 4, or 5; relative density: 16.654; melting pt: 3020°C; boiling pt: 5458±100°C

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tantalum Scientific  

/ tăn′tə-ləm /

1. A hard, heavy, gray metallic element that is highly resistant to corrosion at low temperatures. It is used to make light-bulb filaments, surgical instruments, and glass for camera lenses. Atomic number 73; atomic weight 180.948; melting point 3,017°C; boiling point 5,458°C; specific gravity 16.6; valence 2, 3, 4, 5.

2. See Periodic Table

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Etymology

Origin of tantalum

1795–1805; < New Latin; named after Tantalus

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tantalum

By April that had grown to $3.5 billion across 11 named projects spanning gallium, neodymium-praseodymium, graphite, tungsten, nickel, tantalum and magnesium.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

It is called Tanbreez, a neologism that refers to tantalum, niobium, rare-earth elements and zirconium.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

The US is also negotiating a minerals deal with DR Congo to help gain access to the central African country's vast reserves of key metals such as cobalt, tantalum, lithium and copper.

From BBC ● Apr. 6, 2026

The team successfully applied this method to six types of MXenes, including two forms of titanium carbide, as well as niobium carbide, vanadium carbide, tantalum carbide, and titanium carbonitride.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 31, 2026

There is no tantalum on Mars except a little scattered through tons of rock.

From Giants on the Earth by S. P. (Sterner St. Paul) Meek