Noun
A rare nonmetallic element found in certain minerals, as tantalite, samarskite, and fergusonite, and isolated as a dark powder which becomes steel-gray by burnishing. Symbol Ta. Atomic weight 182.0. Formerly called also tantalium.
Source: Webster's dictionaryIn 1864 and 1865, a series of scientific findings clarified that niobium and columbium were the same element (as distinguished from tantalum), and for a century both names were used interchangeably. Source: Internet
It contains besides niobium, tantalum and titanium up to 30% rare earth elements and is the largest source for these elements in Russia. Source: Internet
Because it is positioned right below tantalum, it may also be called eka-tantalum. Source: Internet
Chemistry experiments have confirmed that dubnium behaves as the heavier homologue to tantalum in group 5. The chemical properties of dubnium are characterized only partly. Source: Internet
Grinding tantalum is difficult, especially so for annealed tantalum. Source: Internet
He decided to keep the name tantalum. citation After Friedrich Wöhler confirmed these results, it was thought that columbium and tantalum were the same element. Source: Internet