#73 / 118
73Ta180.95
Transition Metalssolid at STPD-block

Tantalum

Group: 5•Period: 6•Standard Atomic Weight: 180.95 u
Open Full Periodic TableView Bohr Model

Why is Tantalum in this position?

Understanding the scientific rationale behind Tantalum's position in the periodic table:

Group Assignment
Group 5

Belongs to Group 5 because it has 5 valence electrons (5d³ 6s²).

Period Assignment
Period 6

Belongs to Period 6 because its outermost electrons occupy n=6.

Orbital Block
D-block

Belongs to the d-block because its valence electrons fill 5d orbitals.

Chemical Category
Transition Metals

Classified as a transition metal with superior chemical immunity and melting point (3,017 °C).

Atomic Structure & Bohr Shell Model

Shell Distribution: [2, 8, 18, 32, 11, 2]

Bohr Atomic Shell Model(2, 8, 18, 32, 11, 2)

Hover or tap any shell orbit ring to inspect electron counts and 2n² capacities.

73 Protons (p⁺)108 Neutrons (n⁰)
KShell K: Electron 1 of 2Shell K: Electron 2 of 2LShell L: Electron 1 of 8Shell L: Electron 2 of 8Shell L: Electron 3 of 8Shell L: Electron 4 of 8Shell L: Electron 5 of 8Shell L: Electron 6 of 8Shell L: Electron 7 of 8Shell L: Electron 8 of 8MShell M: Electron 1 of 18Shell M: Electron 2 of 18Shell M: Electron 3 of 18Shell M: Electron 4 of 18Shell M: Electron 5 of 18Shell M: Electron 6 of 18Shell M: Electron 7 of 18Shell M: Electron 8 of 18Shell M: Electron 9 of 18Shell M: Electron 10 of 18Shell M: Electron 11 of 18Shell M: Electron 12 of 18Shell M: Electron 13 of 18Shell M: Electron 14 of 18Shell M: Electron 15 of 18Shell M: Electron 16 of 18Shell M: Electron 17 of 18Shell M: Electron 18 of 18NShell N: Electron 1 of 32Shell N: Electron 2 of 32Shell N: Electron 3 of 32Shell N: Electron 4 of 32Shell N: Electron 5 of 32Shell N: Electron 6 of 32Shell N: Electron 7 of 32Shell N: Electron 8 of 32Shell N: Electron 9 of 32Shell N: Electron 10 of 32Shell N: Electron 11 of 32Shell N: Electron 12 of 32Shell N: Electron 13 of 32Shell N: Electron 14 of 32Shell N: Electron 15 of 32Shell N: Electron 16 of 32Shell N: Electron 17 of 32Shell N: Electron 18 of 32Shell N: Electron 19 of 32Shell N: Electron 20 of 32Shell N: Electron 21 of 32Shell N: Electron 22 of 32Shell N: Electron 23 of 32Shell N: Electron 24 of 32Shell N: Electron 25 of 32Shell N: Electron 26 of 32Shell N: Electron 27 of 32Shell N: Electron 28 of 32Shell N: Electron 29 of 32Shell N: Electron 30 of 32Shell N: Electron 31 of 32Shell N: Electron 32 of 32OShell O: Electron 1 of 11Shell O: Electron 2 of 11Shell O: Electron 3 of 11Shell O: Electron 4 of 11Shell O: Electron 5 of 11Shell O: Electron 6 of 11Shell O: Electron 7 of 11Shell O: Electron 8 of 11Shell O: Electron 9 of 11Shell O: Electron 10 of 11Shell O: Electron 11 of 11PShell P: Electron 1 of 2Shell P: Electron 2 of 2TaZ = 73

Educational Note: This Niels Bohr planetary model visually illustrates principal quantum energy shells ($n=1, 2, 3\dots$) and electron counts. In modern quantum mechanics (Schrödinger model), electrons do not orbit in fixed circular planetary tracks, but exist as 3D probability clouds (orbitals: $s, p, d, f$) governed by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.

Electron Shell Filling Breakdown

Shell K (n=1):2 / 2 electrons (100%)
Shell L (n=2):8 / 8 electrons (100%)
Shell M (n=3):18 / 18 electrons (100%)
Shell N (n=4):32 / 32 electrons (100%)
Shell O (n=5):11 / 50 electrons (22%)
Shell P (n=6):2 / 72 electrons (3%)
Aufbau Electron Configuration
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ 5s² 5p⁶ 5d³ 6s²

Neutral ground state configuration. Valence electrons: 5.

Atomic & Quantum Properties

Electronegativity (Pauling)1.5 Pauling
1st Ionization Energy761 kJ/mol
Electron Affinity-31 kJ/mol
Atomic Radius (empirical)200 pm
Common Oxidation States+5
Crystal StructureBCC

Physical & Thermal Properties

Density at STP16.69 g/cm³
Melting Point3017 °C (3290 K)
Boiling Point5458 °C (5731 K)
Magnetic OrderingParamagnetic
Discovery Year1802
Discovered ByAnders Gustaf Ekeberg

Real-World Uses, Occurrence & Compounds

Major Industrial & Everyday Uses
  • Miniature tantalum electrolytic capacitors for smartphones, tablets, and aerospace computers
  • Biocompatible surgical implants, cranial plates, bone repair screws, and vascular stents
  • Chemical processing heat exchangers handling boiling concentrated hydrochloric acid
  • Gas turbine blade superalloys withstanding extreme centrifugal stresses
Occurrence in Nature

Mined from columbite-tantalite (coltan) ore, primarily in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Australia, and Brazil.

Etymology & Name Origin

From Tantalus of Greek mythology, because of its 'tantalizing' inability to dissolve in strong acids

Important Chemical Compounds
Ta₂O₅ (Tantalum pentoxide)
TaC (Tantalum carbide)
TaCl₅ (Tantalum pentachloride)
Interesting Chemical Facts
  • • Tantalum is so unreactive that body fluids cannot corrode it; living bone and human tissue happily adhere directly to tantalum surfaces without immune rejection.
  • • A smartphone typically contains around 40 to 50 milligrams of tantalum inside tiny surface-mount capacitors.
  • • Tantalum carbide (TaC) is a super-hard refractory ceramic that melts above 3,880 °C.
Safety & Handling Note

Tantalum is completely non-toxic and bio-inert; tantalum powder presents a moderate dust explosion hazard.

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