WebElements Periodic Table of the Elements | Tantalum

Chemical reactions of the elements

Reaction of tantalum with air

Tantalum does not react with air under normal conditions. The surface of tantalum metal is protected by a thin oxide layer.

Reaction of tantalum with water

Tantalum does not react with water under normal conditions. The surface of tantalum metal is protected by a thin oxide layer.

Reaction of tantalum with the halogens

Tantalum does react with the halogens upon warming to form tantalum(V) halides. So, tantalum reacts with fluorine, F₂, chlorine, Cl₂, bromine, I₂, and iodine, I₂, to form respectively tantalum(V) bromide, TaF₅, tantalum(V) chloride, TaCl₅, tantalum(V) bromide, TaBr₅, and tantalum(V) iodide, TaI₅.

2Ta(s) + 5F₂(g) → TaF₅(s) [white]

2Ta(s) + 5Cl₂(g) → TaCl₅(l) [white]

2Ta(s) + 5Br₂(g) → TaBr₅(s) [pale yellow]

2Ta(s) + 5I₂(g) → TaI₅(s) [black]

Reaction of tantalum with acids

Tantalum appear not to be attacked by many acids at room temperature but does dissolve in hydrofluoric acid, HF, or oleum (a solution of sulphur trioxide, SO₃, in sulphuric acid, H₂SO₄, also known as fuming sulphuric acid).

Reaction of tantalum with bases

Tantalum metal is attacked by molten alkali.

WebElements Shop

WebElements now has an online shop at which you can buy periodic table posters, mugs, T-shirts, games, molecular models, and more.

Zr	Nb	Mo
Hf	Ta	W
Rf	Db	Sg

Search WebElements

Search Chemistry Web
- Custom Search

Tantalum	Tantale
Tantal	Tantaal
Tantalio	Tántalo
Tantal	Tântalo

Thanks to...
- Advent Research Materials for assistance with tantalum.

Tantalum
- Essential data: names, symbol, atomic number, and atomic weight; block, period, and group in periodic table; description; standard state; registry number; and isolation
- History: meaning of name; discovery; and history of the element
- Find a property
Tantalum around us
- Uses
- Geology: Abundance of elements in the universe; the sun; meteorites; Earth's crust; oceans; and streams
- Biology: Abundance in humans; biological role; and health hazards)
Tantalum compounds
- Compounds: halides, oxides, sulfides, hydrides, and complexes; lattice energies; and reduction potentials
- Electronegativities: Pauling; Sanderson; Allred Rochow; Mulliken-Jaffe; and Allen
- Bond enthalpies of diatomic species
- Lattice energies
Element properties
- Physics properties: Boiling point; melting point; density; molar volume; thermal conductivity; and electrical resistivity; bulk modulus; critical temperature; superconductivity temperature; hardness (mineralogical, Brinell, and Vickers); linear expansion coefficient; Poisson's ratio; reflectivity; refractive index; rigidity modulus; Young's modulus; velocity of sound
- Images
- Reactions of calcium: reactions of tantalum with air; water; halogens; acids; and bases
- Crystal structure
- Thermochemistry: enthalpies of atomization, fusion, and vaporization; thermodynamic properties
Atom properties
- Electron shell properties: Electronic configuration; term symbol; electron affinity; ionization energies; and atomic spectra
- Atom sizes: atomic radius; Shannon and Pauling ionic radii; covalent radius; metallic radius; element bond length; and Van der Waals radius
- Atomic orbital properties: effective nuclear charge; electron binding energies; and valence orbital radii maxima
Nuclear properties
- Isotopes: isotope abundances; radioactive isotopes; isotope masses; nuclear spins; and nuclear magnetic moment
- NMR properties: frequencies; isotopes; magnetogyric ratios; quadrupole moments; receptivities; and relative sensitivities

Books