Name       : Tantalum
Symbol     : Ta
Atomic #   : 73
Atom weight: 180.948
Melting P. : 2996
Boiling P. : 5425
Oxidation  : +5
Pronounced : TAN-te-lem
From       : Named for the mythological character, Tantalus, the father of
             Niobe.
Identified : Anders Gustaf Ekenberg in 1802
Appearance : Gray, heavy, hard metal
Note       : Comprises only 0.0002% of the earth's crust
             
[Properties]

  Tantalum is one of the Group-VB, or vanadium group, elements on the
periodic table of the elements. Notice that tantalum's twin element,
niobium (Nb), is located directly above it on the table.
  Tantalum is usually described as a shiny gray metal that is very hard,
but ductile. It has a very high melting point that is exceeded by tungsten
(W) and rhenium (Re) which, incidentally, fall directly to the right of
tantalum on the periodic table.
  This metal also resists attack from most chemicals at room temperature.
It oxidizes very, very slowly to form the oxide. It reacts more vigorously
with hydrofluoric acid (HF) to form tantalum pentafluoride.