Contents
When was tantalum discovered?
1802
Tantalum/Discovered
Closely associated with niobium in ores and in properties, tantalum was discovered (1802) by the Swedish chemist Anders Gustaf Ekeberg and named after the mythological character Tantalus because of the tantalizing problem of dissolving the oxide in acids.
What is the history of tantalum?
Tantalum was discovered by the Swedish chemist Anders Ekeberg, who extracted the metal from mineral samples. Tantalus was a king in greek mythology who, after stealing secrets from the gods, was punished by being forced to stand in a pool of water that flowed away from him every time he bent his head to drink.
Does the human body use tantalum?
3.15. 4.3 Medical and In Vivo Applications. Tantalum and niobium are very stable passive metals and are completely inert to body fluids and tissues. In particular, bone and tissue do not recede from tantalum, which makes it attractive as an implant material for the human body.
Is tantalum toxic to humans?
Tantalum salts are non-toxic when taken orally because they are poorly absorbed and quickly eliminated from mammals. Tantalum is inert enough to be used as an implant material for humans. Inhaling tantalum oxide (Ta20s) has caused transient bronchitis and interstitial pneumonitis with hyperemia in mammals.
Which country produces the most tantalum?
Rwanda
Rwanda is the world’s largest producer of tantalum, an essential mineral for the electronics industries. According to the latest Mineral Commodity Summaries report, Rwanda produced around 37 percent of the world’s tantalum supply in 2015, while DR Congo accounted for a further 32 percent.
Why is tantalum important to the electronics industry?
In the 21st century, it has become a crucial element in the electronics industry, with over 75% of electronics containing tantalum in some form. In particular, engineers have been able to take advantage of some of tantalum’s properties to make capacitors and other components smaller and more efficient.
Who was the first person to discover tantalum?
Tantalum was discovered in Sweden in 1802 by Anders Ekeberg. One year earlier, Charles Hatchett had discovered columbium (now niobium), and in 1809 the English chemist William Hyde Wollaston compared its oxide, columbite with a density of 5.918 g/cm3, to that of tantalum, tantalite with a density of 7.935 g/cm3.
Where can you find tantalum in the world?
The metal is commonly found in capacitors and super alloys that are applied in many electronics, automotive and aerospace products. More than half of the world’s tantalum is mined in Africa, including artisanal mining operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and its neighboring countries.
What can tantalum be used as a substitute for?
The chemical inertness of tantalum makes it a valuable substance for laboratory equipment, and as a substitute for platinum. Its main use today is in tantalum capacitors in electronic equipment such as mobile phones, DVD players, video game systems and computers .