Why is it in the news?

• Researchers from IIT Ropar have discovered tantalum, a rare metal, in the sands of the Sutlej River in Punjab, India. The team, led by Dr. Resmi Sebastian, an assistant professor in the Civil Engineering Department, made this significant finding.
• Tantalum’s presence in this region is noteworthy as it is a valuable metal extensively utilized in electronics and semiconductor industries. This discovery could have implications for both Punjab and India in terms of natural resource exploration and technological applications.

About Tantalum

• Tantalum was discovered in 1802 by Swedish chemist Anders Gustaf Ekenberg. Initially, it was mistakenly thought to be a form of niobium, which is chemically similar.
• It was Swiss chemist Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac who definitively established that tantalum and niobium were distinct elements in 1866.
• Tantalum is characterized by its atomic number 73, signifying the number of protons within an atom. It is grayish, dense, exceptionally hard, and boasts remarkable corrosion resistance.
• When tantalum is exposed to air, it forms a protective oxide layer that is incredibly resistant to removal, even in the presence of strong acids or high temperatures.
• It possesses ductility, meaning it can be stretched into thin wires without breaking. Tantalum’s high melting point is surpassed only by tungsten and rhenium.

Applications

• Tantalum is widely used in the electronics industry. Tantalum capacitors are known for their ability to store a significant amount of electricity in small sizes with minimal leakage. This makes them ideal for use in portable electronic devices like smartphones, laptops, and digital cameras.
• Due to its high melting point and resistance to corrosion, tantalum is employed in environments with elevated temperatures. It serves as a substitute for platinum in various applications, including chemical plants and nuclear power plants.
• Tantalum is biocompatible, meaning it does not react with bodily fluids. This property makes it suitable for producing surgical equipment and medical implants, such as artificial joints.
• Tantalum carbide (TaC), when combined with graphite, forms one of the hardest known materials. It is used on the cutting edges of high-speed machine tools, contributing to their durability and performance.