Tantalum: Difference between revisions
imported>Milton Beychok m (Null edit) |
imported>Milton Beychok (Minor copy edit to delete dead hyperlink) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{subpages}}{{Basic elemental info}} | {{subpages}}{{Basic elemental info}} | ||
Tantalum was discovered in 1802 | Tantalum was discovered in 1802 and is used in manufacturing [[Capacitance|electrolytic capacitors]] for the [[electronics]] industry. The tantalum capacitors are a common choice for use in cellular phones and other mobile electronics, because of the fact that they have the highest capacitance-to-volume ratio, and are therefore the smallest in size, relative to any other capacitor technology. | ||
Tantalum is mined in the form known as [[coltan]], an ore of [[columbite]] and [[tantalite]]. It has been estimated that a high percentage of the world's coltan reserves are located in the [[Democratic Republic of Congo]] (DRC).<ref>http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Africa/Business_War_Congo.html</ref><ref>http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/gorilla/longevity.htm</ref><ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1468772.stm</ref><ref>http://sitemaker.umich.edu/section002group3/coltan_mining_in_democratic_republic_of_the_congo</ref> There has been continued strife in the DRC for many years related to coltan mining and corruption.<ref>http://sitemaker.umich.edu/section002group3/coltan_mining_in_democratic_republic_of_the_congo</ref><ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1468772.stm</ref> | Tantalum is mined in the form known as [[coltan]], an ore of [[columbite]] and [[tantalite]]. It has been estimated that a high percentage of the world's coltan reserves are located in the [[Democratic Republic of Congo]] (DRC).<ref>http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Africa/Business_War_Congo.html</ref><ref>http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/gorilla/longevity.htm</ref><ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1468772.stm</ref><ref>http://sitemaker.umich.edu/section002group3/coltan_mining_in_democratic_republic_of_the_congo</ref> There has been continued strife in the DRC for many years related to coltan mining and corruption.<ref>http://sitemaker.umich.edu/section002group3/coltan_mining_in_democratic_republic_of_the_congo</ref><ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1468772.stm</ref> | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
Revision as of 14:28, 14 April 2011
Tantalum is a chemical element, having the chemical symbol Ta.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Its atomic number (the number of protons) is 73. It has a Standard Atomic Weight of 180.9479(1), and is typically found as a solid in its elemental form.
Tantalum is considered to be a member of the "Transition metal" class of elements, has a boiling point of 5,458 °C , and a melting point of 3,017 °C .
Tantalum was discovered in 1802 and is used in manufacturing electrolytic capacitors for the electronics industry. The tantalum capacitors are a common choice for use in cellular phones and other mobile electronics, because of the fact that they have the highest capacitance-to-volume ratio, and are therefore the smallest in size, relative to any other capacitor technology.
Tantalum is mined in the form known as coltan, an ore of columbite and tantalite. It has been estimated that a high percentage of the world's coltan reserves are located in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).[1][2][3][4] There has been continued strife in the DRC for many years related to coltan mining and corruption.[5][6]
- ↑ http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Africa/Business_War_Congo.html
- ↑ http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/gorilla/longevity.htm
- ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1468772.stm
- ↑ http://sitemaker.umich.edu/section002group3/coltan_mining_in_democratic_republic_of_the_congo
- ↑ http://sitemaker.umich.edu/section002group3/coltan_mining_in_democratic_republic_of_the_congo
- ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1468772.stm