Tantalum (Ta) Fun Facts

73 Ta
Superhero Identity

"The Uncorrodible, a hero who can withstand any acid and is trusted to build implants inside the human body."

The true essence of Tantalum (Ta) on the molecular frontier.

Appearance

Tantalum is a hard, blue-gray, lustrous metal.

Everyday Connection

Tantalum is found in the tiny, high-performance capacitors in your smartphone.

In Pop Culture

Tantalum was famously difficult to isolate � its name comes from the �tantalized� Greek myth.

Did You Know?

1

It is named after Tantalus, a villain from Greek mythology who was condemned to eternal punishment, because the element was so frustratingly difficult to isolate.

2

Tantalum is highly biocompatible and extremely resistant to corrosion by body fluids, making it ideal for surgical implants, such as artificial joints and cranial plates.

3

It is a critical component in small, high-performance capacitors used in a vast range of portable electronics, including smartphones, laptops, and cameras.

4

Tantalum has a very high melting point and is highly ductile, meaning it can be drawn out into a very thin wire.

5

It is considered a 'conflict mineral' because much of it is mined in war-torn regions like the Democratic Republic of Congo.