tantalum
Rare transition metal
Tantalum is a hard, dense metallic element valued for its resistance to corrosion and high melting point.
It's used in electronics—particularly capacitors in smartphones and computers—and in surgical implants because the body tolerates it well.
Symbol: Ta.
Columbite-tantalite mixture
- niobiumMetallic element, atomic forty-one
- extractionAct of removing
- oreMetal-bearing rock
- CongoMajor Central African waterway
Australia · refining · cassiterite · smelting · artisanal · supply-chain
Basic substance or factor
- tungstenElement seventy-four
- niobiumMetallic element, atomic forty-one
- hafniumElement seventy-two
- rheniumAtomic number seventy-five
molybdenum · vanadium · zirconium · titanium
Charge-storing circuit components
- semiconductorsPartially conductive materials
- circuitryInterconnected electronic components
- resistorsCurrent-limiting circuit components
- diodesOne-way current components
transistors · motherboards · smartphones · laptops · surface-mount · dielectric · filtering · amplification
Resistant to heat/control
- corrosion-resistantWithstands oxidation and decay
- high-meltingRequiring intense heat to liquefy
- ductileAble to deform permanently
- sinteringPowder consolidation by heating
alloys · tensile · durability · hardness · density · blue-gray · lustrous
Accepted by living tissue
- prostheticsFabricated body part replacements
- orthopedicRelating to bone treatment
- surgicalRelating to operations
- implantsSurgically embedded devices
Mythic king eternally denied
- GreekOf Athenian origin
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
- underworldRealm of the departed
- unattainableImpossible to acquire
coltan
Columbite-tantalite mixture
- niobiumMetallic element, atomic forty-one
- extractionAct of removing
- oreMetal-bearing rock
Congo · Australia · refining · cassiterite · smelting · artisanal · supply-chain
element
Basic substance or factor
rhenium · molybdenum · vanadium · zirconium · titanium
capacitors
Charge-storing circuit components
- semiconductorsPartially conductive materials
- circuitryInterconnected electronic components
- resistorsCurrent-limiting circuit components
diodes · transistors · motherboards · smartphones · laptops · surface-mount · dielectric · filtering · amplification · miniaturization
refractory
Resistant to heat/control
- corrosion-resistantWithstands oxidation and decay
- high-meltingRequiring intense heat to liquefy
- ductileAble to deform permanently
sintering · alloys · tensile · durability · hardness · density · blue-gray · lustrous
biocompatible
Accepted by living tissue
- prostheticsFabricated body part replacements
- orthopedicRelating to bone treatment
- surgicalRelating to operations
implants · dental · pacemakers · non-reactive · sterilizable
Tantalus
Mythic king eternally denied
- GreekOf Athenian origin
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
- underworldRealm of the departed
unattainable · torment · Hades · eternal · namesake
- metalsaluminum, steel, copper, iron, gold
- strategic resourcesuranium, lithium, cobalt, rare earths, tungsten
- Tech Materialssilicon, copper wire, lithium, cobalt, aluminum
- Transition Metalsscandium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese
- heavy metalslead, gold, platinum, mercury, uranium
- aerospace materialstitanium, aluminum, carbon fiber, composites, heat shields
tantalize, tantalizing, tantalized, tantalising, tantalise, tantalizer, tantalised, tantalizers