tantalum
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
1Words 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 BEASTIn China, for example, tungsten, tantalum, tin and gold are mined and ore is imported from other countries.
tantalum helps you send text messages, tin is the solder on every circuit board and gold is the little connecting piece.
In 2012, Intel began producing microprocessors with conflict-free tantalum, a sign that conflict-free efforts were progressing.
tantalum is used to protect interconnects inside microprocessors.
More efficient lamps have been devised with filaments of the metals tantalum and tungsten (Fig. 274).
Physics | Willis Eugene TowerThe 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 BeringerChemically related to vanadium are the two elements tantalum and columbium or niobium.
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 SmithI 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
/ (ˈtæntələm) /
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
1Collins 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
[ 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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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