tantalum

[ tan-tl-uhm ]

nounChemistry.

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

Words Nearby tantalum

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use tantalum in a sentence

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 | THE DAILY BEAST
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 | THE DAILY BEAST
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 | THE DAILY BEAST
In 2012, Intel began producing microprocessors with conflict-free tantalum, a sign that conflict-free efforts were progressing.
Will You Choose a Conflict-Free Microprocessor? | Intel | May 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
tantalum is used to protect interconnects inside microprocessors.
Will You Choose a Conflict-Free Microprocessor? | Intel | May 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

More efficient lamps have been devised with filaments of the metals tantalum and tungsten (Fig. 274).
Physics | Willis Eugene Tower
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
Chemically related to vanadium are the two elements tantalum and columbium or niobium.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 1 | Various
How are you going to separate out the tantalum and the others you want from the ones that you don't want?
Spacehounds of IPC | Edward Elmer Smith
I brought along a piece of platinum from the power plant, and something that I think is tantalum from Barkovis' description of it.
Spacehounds of IPC | Edward Elmer Smith

British Dictionary definitions for tantalum

tantalum

/ (ˈtæntələm) /

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

Origin of 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

Scientific definitions for tantalum

tantalum

[ tăn′tə-ləm ]

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.

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