73 Ta 180.948

Tantalum

transition metal

Properties

Atomic number
73
Atomic mass
180.948 u
Category
transition metal
Group
5
Period
6
Block
d-block
State (room temp)
Solid
Outer-shell electrons
2
Electronegativity
1.5 (Pauling)
Density
16.69 g/cm³
Melting point
3016.85 °C
Boiling point
5457.85 °C

Electron configuration

1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶ 6s² 4f¹⁴ 5d³

Noble-gas shorthand: [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d³ 6s²

Electrons per shell: 2, 8, 18, 32, 11, 2 — that's 2 in the outermost shell.

See how electron configuration is built →

Ta
Bohr model — outer-shell electrons in blue

About Tantalum

Tantalum is a chemical element with symbol Ta and atomic number 73. Previously known as tantalium, its name comes from Tantalus, an antihero from Greek mythology. Tantalum is a rare, hard, blue-gray, lustrous transition metal that is highly corrosion-resistant.

Position in the periodic table

Open the interactive periodic table →

Data compiled from Wikipedia, PubChem, and IUPAC. Source.