Symbol
Ta
  
Nb
  
Period Number
6
  
5
  
Block
d block
  
d block
  
Element Family
Transition Metal
  
Transition Metal
  
Space Group Name
Im_ 3m
  
Im_ 3m
  
Interesting Facts
- Tantalum metal is known as corrosion resistance.
- Tantalum metal can easily fabricated and It is a good conductor of heat and electricity.
  
- Niobium metal was used to get called Columbium in past.
- Niobium metal found freely in nature (abundance).
  
Sources
Found in Minerals, Mining, Ores of Minerals
  
By-product of Tin Extraction, Found in Minerals, Mining, Ores of Minerals
  
History
  
  
Who Discovered
Anders Gustaf Ekeberg
  
Charles Hatchett
  
Discovery
In 1802
  
In 1801
  
Abundance
  
  
Abundance In Sun
~-9999 %
  
~0.0000004 %
  
23
Abundance In Earth's Crust
Uses & Benefits
- Tantalum metal is mainly used in the manufacturing of electron components. Its Oxide layer acts as an insulator.
- Tantalum metal is also used in surgical transplant like replacement of bone, skull plates and as a woven gauze.
  
- Niobium alloys are used in jet engines and rockets and spacecraft, beams and girders for buildings and oil and gas pipelines.
- It is used superconducting magnets in particles accelerators, NMR and MRI equipment.
  
Industrial Uses
Electrical Industry, Electronic Industry
  
Aerospace Industry, Ammunition Industry, Electrical Industry, Electronic Industry
  
Medical Uses
NA
  
NA
  
Other Uses
Alloys
  
Alloys
  
Biological Properties
  
  
Toxicity
Low Toxic
  
Low Toxic
  
Present in Human Body
Yes
  
Yes
  
In Blood
Not Available
  
0.01 Blood/mg dm-3
  
25
In Bone
0.03 p.p.m.
  
28
0.07 p.p.m.
  
25
Boiling Point
2,468.00 °C
  
99+
Appearance
  
  
Physical State
Solid
  
Solid
  
Color
Gray Blue
  
Gray
  
Luster
Metallic
  
Metallic
  
Hardness
  
  
Speed of Sound
3,400.00 m/s
  
22
3,480.00 m/s
  
21
Optical Properties
  
  
Reflectivity
Not Available
  
Allotropes
No
  
No
  
α Allotropes
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
β Allotropes
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
γ Allotropes
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Chemical Formula
Ta
  
Nb
  
Isotopes
  
  
Electronegativity
  
  
Pauling Electronegativity
Sanderson Electronegativity
Not Available
  
Allred Rochow Electronegativity
Electropositivity
  
  
Pauling Electropositivity
Ionization Energies
  
  
1st Energy Level
761.00 kJ/mol
  
18
652.10 kJ/mol
  
99+
2nd Energy Level
1,500.00 kJ/mol
  
40
1,380.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
3rd Energy Level
Not Available
  
2,416.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
4th Energy Level
Not Available
  
3,700.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
5th Energy Level
Not Available
  
4,877.00 kJ/mol
  
36
6th Energy Level
Not Available
  
9,847.00 kJ/mol
  
11
7th Energy level
Not Available
  
12,100.00 kJ/mol
  
14
Electrochemical Equivalent
1.35 g/amp-hr
  
99+
0.69 g/amp-hr
  
99+
Other Chemical Properties
Anti Corrosion, Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Radioactivity, Solubility
  
Anti Corrosion, Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Solubility
  
Electron Configuration
[Xe] 4f14 5d3 6s2
  
[Kr] 4d4 5s1
  
Crystal Structure
Body Centered Cubic (BCC)
  
Body Centered Cubic (BCC)
  
Crystal Lattice
BCC-Crystal-Structure-.jpg#100
  
BCC-Crystal-Structure-.jpg#100
  
Atom
  
  
Radius of an Atom
  
  
Atomic Volume
10.90 cm3/mol
  
99+
10.87 cm3/mol
  
99+
Adjacent Atomic Numbers
  
  
Valence Electron Potential
110.00 (-eV)
  
7
104.00 (-eV)
  
8
Lattice Angles
π/2, π/2, π/2
  
π/2, π/2, π/2
  
Lattice C/A Ratio
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Density
  
  
Density At Room Temperature
16.69 g/cm3
  
18
8.57 g/cm3
  
99+
Density When Liquid (at m.p.)
Not Available
  
Tensile Strength
Not Available
  
Viscosity
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Vapor Pressure
  
  
Elasticity properties
  
  
Other Mechanical Properties
Ductile
  
Ductile, Malleable
  
Magnetic Characteristics
  
  
Magnetic Ordering
Paramagnetic
  
Paramagnetic
  
Electrical Properties
  
  
Electrical Property
Conductor
  
Conductor
  
Resistivity
131.00 nΩ·m
  
25
152.00 nΩ·m
  
23
Electrical Conductivity
0.08 106/cm Ω
  
27
0.07 106/cm Ω
  
28
Electron Affinity
31.00 kJ/mol
  
29
86.10 kJ/mol
  
12
Specific Heat
0.14 J/(kg K)
  
37
0.26 J/(kg K)
  
20
Molar Heat Capacity
25.36 J/mol·K
  
99+
24.60 J/mol·K
  
99+
Thermal Conductivity
57.50 W/m·K
  
27
53.70 W/m·K
  
29
Critical Temperature
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Thermal Expansion
6.30 µm/(m·K)
  
99+
7.30 µm/(m·K)
  
99+
Enthalpy
  
  
Enthalpy of Vaporization
753.10 kJ/mol
  
2
696.60 kJ/mol
  
4
Enthalpy of Fusion
31.40 kJ/mol
  
3
27.20 kJ/mol
  
6
Enthalpy of Atomization
782.00 kJ/mol
  
3
745.00 kJ/mol
  
4
Standard Molar Entropy
41.50 J/mol.K
  
37
36.40 J/mol.K
  
99+