So, what even is Tantalum?
Tantalum is a transition metal in the 5th group with an atomic number of 73, a symbol of Ta, and an atomic number of 180.9. Its color is grey and its melting point is 3,020 degrees Celsius. Its boiling point is 5,560 degrees Celsius. It is a very strong and durable metal. It has luster, is ductile, and has 73 electrons and protons. This means it must have 108 neutrons that are most abundant in isotopes. It is rare to be found since it is almost always mixed with niobium. In fact, it was confusing for scientists to discover since its chemical properties are very similar to those of niobium. Tantalum is a very dense metal and it has 6 electron shells since it is in the 6th period. Its shell numbers are 2, 8, 18, 32, 11, 2.