Tantalum

[Sarah]

A rare nonmetallic element found in certain minerals, astantalite, samarskite, and fergusonite, and isolated as a dark powderwhich becomes steel-gray by burnishing. Symbol Ta. Atomic weight182.0. Formerly called also tantalium.

[Sarah]

Tantalum is the seventy-third element on the periodic table with a symbol of Ta, and an atomic mass of 180.94788 u ± 0.00002 u. Tantalum was discovered in 1802 by Swedish chemist Anders Gustaf Ekeberg, and is now used in many modern day appliances such as capacitors, and dental surgical instruments.