Q. What is 'Tantalum', recently seen in news?
Answer:
Rare metal
Notes: The Central Government recently classified 24 minerals, including Tantalum, as Critical and Strategic under the MMDR Act, 1957. Tantalum is a rare metal with the symbol Ta and atomic number 73. It is usually found in the ore columbite-tantalite (coltan) and major producers include the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Brazil, and Nigeria. Tantalum is a shiny, silvery metal, soft when pure, and highly resistant to corrosion and chemical attack below 150°C. It belongs to refractory metals, known for their high resistance to heat and wear, and has an extremely high melting point.