Electronic data		Thermal data		Steric data
Shells: 2,8,18,32,11,2 Orbitals: [Xe] 4f14 5d3 6s2 Electronegativity: 1.3, 1.5 1. Ionization potential: 7.89 eV 2. Ionization potential: -- eV 3. Ionization potential: -- eV Oxidation states: 5 Electrical conductivity: 0.0761 10^6		Melting point: 2996 °C Boiling point: 5425 °C ±100 Specific heat: 0.14 J/gK Heat of fusion: 31.60 kJ/mol Heat of vaporization: 743.0 kJ/mol Thermal conductivity: 0.575 W/cmK		Atomic radius: 2.09 Å Ionic radius: 0.64 Å () Covalent radius: 1.34 Å Atomic volume: 10.90 cm³/mol Density (293 K): 16.6 g/cm³ Crystal structure: Cubic: Body centered

Nuclide	Abundance [%]	Mass	Spin	Halflife	Decay mode	Decay tree
179Ta	0	179	7/2	1.8y	EC	View
180Ta	0.012	179.948	9	>1.2E15y	EC,+	View
181Ta	99.988	180.948	7/2	--	stable	--
182Ta	0	182	3	114.43d	-	View

Legend

Name origin:	From king Tantalus of Greek mythology, father of Niobe.
Description:	Rare, gray, heavy, hard but ductile, metal with a high melting point.
Discovered by:	Anders Ekeberg
Year:	1802
Place:	Sweden
Sources:	Chiefly occurs in the mineral tantalite. Always found with niobium.
Use(s):	Often used as an economical substitute for platinum. Tantalum pentoxide is used in capacitors and in camera lenses to increase refracting power. It and its alloys are corrosion and wear resistant so it is used to make surgical and dental tools.