Tantalum
Tantalum
Tantalum (pronounced /ˈtæntələm/) is a chemical element with the symbol Ta and atomic number 73.
Etymology
The name Tantalum is derived from Tantalus, a hero from Greek mythology. Tantalus was punished by the gods and condemned to stand in a pool of water beneath a fruit tree with low branches. Whenever he reached for the fruit, the branches raised his intended meal from his grasp. Similarly, whenever he bent down to get a drink, the water receded before he could get any. This is similar to the element's ability to resist absorption and corrosion by most acids.
Properties
Tantalum is a rare, hard, blue-gray, lustrous transition metal that is highly corrosion-resistant. It is part of the refractory metals group, which are widely used as minor components in alloys. The chemical inertness of tantalum makes it a valuable substance for laboratory equipment and a substitute for platinum.
Medical Uses
In the medical field, Tantalum is used for making medical devices such as orthopedic implants and pacemakers. Due to its high density, Tantalum is also used in making radiopaque devices that are visible on X-ray images.
Related Terms
- Chemical element
- Transition metal
- Refractory metals
- Orthopedic implants
- Pacemakers
- Radiopaque devices
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Tantalum
- Wikipedia's article - Tantalum
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