Tantalum Ta Atomic number 73
-Discovered by Anders Ekeberg in Sweden in 1802
-Tantalum is a shiny, silvery metal which is strong and ducticle. It is almost immune to chemical attack at temperatures below 150 C. It is virtually resistant to corrosion due to an oxide film on its surface
-The main mining areas are Thailand, Australia, Congo, Brazil, Portugal and Canada.
-The demand of tantalum is about 2300 tonnes a year.
-It has a high melting point and is frequently used as a substitute for platinum, which is more expensive.
-Tantalum is used to make components for chemical plants, nuclear power plants, airplanes and missiles.
-Tantalum does not react with bodily fluids or irritate the body and is used to make surgical equipment and surgical sutures as well as implants, such as artificial joints and cranial plates.
-Tantalum is alloyed with steel to increase steel's ductility, strength and melting point.
You sunk my battleship! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI chose Tantalum as well--it just seemed the most, well, tantalizing of the lot.