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Trace
Elements Laboratory |
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A
Joint Venture of London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph's
Health Care London
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Tantalum
(Ta)
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This element is not currently measured in this
laboratory.
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| Atomic Number: |
73
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| Atomic Symbol: |
Ta
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| Atomic Weight: |
180.9479 |
| Electron Configuration: |
[Xe]6s24f145d3 |
Tantalum
is a greyish silver, heavy, and very hard metal. When pure,
it is ductile and can be drawn into fine wire, which can
be used as a filament for evaporating metals such as aluminium.
Tantalum is almost completely immune to chemical attack
at temperatures below 150°C, and is attacked only by
hydrofluoric acid, acidic solutions containing the fluoride
ion, and free sulphur trioxide. The element has a melting
point exceeded only by tungsten and rhenium.
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