180.9	By Roisin Ms.Eagle's Grade 8 science Mill Valley Middle School	If you want new bones, turn to Tantalum
#73	Uses History Physical Properties Chemical Properties Sources Bibliography Glossary	Ta
	History Tantalum is a solid metal that was discovered in Sweden. It was found in 1802 by a chemist named Anders Ekeberg. When it was found Anders thought it was the same as niobium. People thought that they were the same metal until 2 men named Rowe and Marigac proved that the two ( niobium and tantalum) were two different acids. This was proved because earlier chemists only isolated the impure metal, these men isolated the acid. The first semi-pure ductile tantalum metal was produced by a man named Van Bolton, in the year 1903. Tantalum and Niobium are both named after the Greek myth King Tantalus. It is now in group 5 period 6.
Sources Tantalum is a metal that is always found with Niobium. one of the places they are found together is in ores. They are also found together in the mineral Tantalite. Both of these soures of tantalum are found in the countries, Australia, Brazil, Mozambique, Thailand, Portugal, Nigeria, Zaire, and Canada. Uses Tantalum is a very usefull metal. When it is tantalum pentoxide ( a compound) it is used in capacitors, condesers, cutting tools like knifes, and in metal alloys. It i also used in vacuum tube filaments and in camera lenses, to increase refracting power. Tantalum is also very important in making repairs to the human body. It can replace bones like your scull and body plates. As a foil wire it connects torn nerves. As a woven gauze it binds up abdominal muscles.
Physical Properties Protons= 73 Electrons= 73 Neutrons=108 Shells= 2, 8, 18, 32, 11, 2 Tantalum is a solid at room temperature Its melting point is 3269.2 k Its boiling point is 5807 k TAntalum is a hard grey, combustible solid that is stable. It is a transition metal, it is less reactive than akaline- earth metals, it s shiny, asnd it is a good conductor of electric current and thermal energy. TAntalum's melting point is only exceeded by tungsten and rhenium.

	Chemical Properties Minimum oxidixation= give 1 or -1 Maximum oidixation= takes 5 or +5 Tantalum is non reactive with oxygen Unradioactive at 100 d.c. Fine dust is easily ignited Heat of vaporization= 743 kJ/mol Tantalum is almost amune to chemical attacks at temperatures below 150 degrees celcius. Thesse chemical attacks can be made by hydroflouric acid, acid solutions containing the flouride ion,and free sulphur trioxider.
Glossary Fusion The act or procedure of liquefying or melting by the application of heat. Combustable Capable of igniting and burning. Oxidixation A reaction in which the atoms in an element lose electrons and the valence of the element is correspondingly increased. Ion An atom or a group of atoms that has acquired a net electric charge by gaining or losing one or more electrons. Refracting To deflect Compound A pure, macroscopically homogeneous substance consisting of atoms or ions of two or more different elements in definite proportions that cannot be separated by physical means. A compound usually has properties unlike those of its constituent elements.
Bibliography Web Elements Map Picture Knife Pictures 3-D Text Chemicool Periodic Table environmental chemistry Chemical Elements Chemistry Periodic Table Pearl Periodic Table Chemical Lab Dictionary