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Tantalum is a gray, heavy, and very hard metal with a platinum-like color when polished. It is malleable, ductile, and can be readily drawn into fine wire with great strength. Tantalum is very resistant to chemical attack and has a high melting point, exceeded only by tungston and rhenium. Its properties combine well with other elements to make alloys with great strength, good ductility, and high melting points. Tantalum is used in bone and joint replacement because it is completely immune to body liquids and is nonirritating.
Melting Point2996°CBoiling Point5429°C
Density16.69g/cm3Themal Conductivity0.130cal/cm2/cm/s/°C
Specific Heat @ 20°C0.036cal/g°CHeat of Fusion6.8k-cal/g-atom
Heat of Vaporization180k-cal/g-atomAtomic Volume10.9W/D
First Ionization Energy138K-cal/g-moleElectronegativity1.5Pauling's
Covalent Radius1.34AngstromsElectrical Resistivity @ 20°C13.5µΩ-cm
Crystal StructureCubic, body centeredThermionic Work Function4.12eV
Thermal Neutron Cross Section21.3barns/atomYoung's Modulus @ 20°C27x106psi
Magnetic Susceptibility0.93x10-6cgsTensile Strength @ 20°C35-70x103psi