tantalum

[tan-tl-uh m]

noun Chemistry.

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. Symbol: Ta; atomic weight: 180.948; atomic number: 73; specific gravity: 16.6.

Origin of tantalum

1795–1805; < New Latin; named after Tantalus

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for tantalum

Contemporary Examples of tantalum

The raw materials— tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold—were dubbed “conflict minerals.”
Aaron Rodgers Takes Aim at Congo’s ‘Blood Minerals’ War
John Prendergast
December 3, 2014
In China, for example, tungsten, tantalum, tin and gold are mined and ore is imported from other countries.
Helter Smelter No More: Moving to Conflict Free Minerals
Intel
June 26, 2014
Tantalum helps you send text messages, tin is the solder on every circuit board and gold is the little connecting piece.
Will You Choose a Conflict-Free Microprocessor?
Intel
May 29, 2014
Tungsten, tantalum, tin and gold are used to produce many common consumer electronics devices.
Will You Choose a Conflict-Free Microprocessor?
Intel
May 29, 2014
Tantalum is used to protect interconnects inside microprocessors.
Will You Choose a Conflict-Free Microprocessor?
Intel
May 29, 2014

Historical Examples of tantalum

Just to make sure of cleaning up the last infinitesimal traces, though, I'm going to flash a getter charge of tantalum in it.
Skylark Three
Edward Elmer Smith
A century elapsed after its discovery before von Bolton produced the first tantalum filament lamp.
Artificial Light
M. Luckiesh
The tantalum lamp had no opportunity to become established, because the tungsten lamp followed its appearance very closely.
Artificial Light
M. Luckiesh
If the first figure of the last pair was assumed to be a null, the word was the symbol for tantalum: "Ta."
The Caves of Fear
John Blaine
The oxide of tantalum dissolves in the bead, but gives no colour.
A Textbook of Assaying: For the Use of Those Connected with Mines.
Cornelius Beringer and John Jacob Beringer

British Dictionary definitions for tantalum

tantalum

noun

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

Word Origin for tantalum

C19: named after Tantalus, with reference to the metal's incapacity to absorb acids

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

tantalum in Medicine

tantalum

[tăn′tə-ləm]

n. Symbol Ta

A hard heavy metallic element that is exceptionally resistant to chemical attack below 150°C and is used to make electronic components and surgical instruments. Atomic number 73.

tantalum in Science

tantalum

[tăn′tə-ləm]

Ta

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. See Periodic Table.