Rare Metal Tantalum Discovered in Punjab Soil

November 22, 2023

A team led by Dr. Resmi Sebastian, assistant professor at the institute’s Civil Engineering Department, has discovered tantalum, a rare metal, in Punjab soil. This discovery holds significance not only for Punjab but for India, given tantalum’s widespread use in electronics and semiconductors.

Properties of Tantalum

  • Atomic Number and Characteristics: Tantalum, with the atomic number 73, is a grey, heavy, and highly corrosion-resistant metal. It is known for its hardness and ductility, allowing it to be stretched into thin wires without breaking.
  • Corrosion Resistance: Tantalum’s corrosion resistance is attributed to the formation of a highly resistant oxide layer when exposed to air.
  • Chemical Immunity: It is almost completely immune to chemical attack at temperatures below 150°C and is attacked only by specific corrosive substances, such as hydrofluoric acid and certain acidic solutions.

Discovery and Name Origin

  • Discovery: Discovered in 1802 by Swedish chemist Anders Gustaf Ekenberg in minerals obtained from Ytterby, Sweden. Initially, it was thought to be a different form of niobium.
  • Confirmation: The distinction between tantalum and niobium was confirmed by Swiss chemist Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac in 1866.
  • Name Origin: Named after the Greek mythological figure Tantalus due to its insolubility in acids, drawing a parallel to Tantalus’ inability to drink water or pick fruit in the underworld.

Uses of Tantalum

  1. Electronics: Tantalum capacitors are crucial in electronic devices, storing more electricity in smaller sizes without leakage.
  2. Substitute for Platinum: Tantalum’s high melting point makes it a cost-effective substitute for platinum in various applications.
  3. Industrial Applications: Used in chemical plants, nuclear power plants, aircraft, missiles, and surgical equipment.
  4. Cutting-Edge Material: Composite materials like tantalum carbide (TaC) and graphite, known for extreme hardness, are used in high-speed machine tool cutting edges.
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