I-Tantalum iyikhemikhali enophawu u-Ta kanye nenombolo ye-athomu engu-73. Ngaphambili eyayaziwa ngokuthi i-tantalium, igama layo livela ku-Tantalus, isaga esivela ezinganekwaneni zamaGreki. I-Tantalum iyinsimbi eyivelakancane, eqinile, eluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka-mpunga, ecwebezelayo ekwazi ukumelana nokugqwala. Iyingxenye yeqembu lezinsimbi eziphikisayo, ezisetshenziswa kabanzi njengezingxenye ezincane kuma-alloys. I-inertness yamakhemikhali ye-tantalum iyenza into ebalulekile emishini yaselabhorethri futhi ithathe indawo yeplatinamu. Ukusetshenziswa kwayo okuyinhloko namuhla kuma-tantalum capacitor emishini kagesi efana nomakhalekhukhwini, izidlali ze-DVD, izinhlelo zemidlalo yevidiyo namakhompyutha. I-Tantalum, ehlala ihlangene ne-niobium efana namakhemikhali, ivela emaqenjini amaminerali i-tantalite, i-columbite ne-coltan (ingxube ye-columbite ne-tantalite, nakuba ingaqashelwa njengezinhlobo zamaminerali ezihlukene). I-Tantalum ithathwa njengento ebaluleke kakhulu kwezobuchwepheshe.

Izici ezingokomzimba
I-Tantalum imnyama (blue-gray), iminyene, i-ductile, iqinile kakhulu, yenziwe kalula, futhi ihambisa kakhulu ukushisa nogesi. Insimbi idume ngokumelana nokugqwala ngama-asidi; empeleni, emazingeni okushisa angaphansi kuka-150 °C i-tantalum icishe ivikeleke ngokuphelele ekuhlaselweni yi-aqua regia evame ukuba nolaka. Ingancibilika nge-hydrofluoric acid noma izixazululo ze-acidic eziqukethe i-ion fluoride ne-sulphur trioxide, kanye nesisombululo se-potassium hydroxide. Iphuzu lokuncibilika eliphakeme le-Tantalum elingu-3017 °C (iphuzu elibilayo elingu-5458 °C) lidlulwa phakathi kwezinto kuphela nge-tungsten, i-rhenium ne-osmium yezinsimbi, nekhabhoni.

I-Tantalum ikhona ngezigaba ezimbili zekristalu, i-alpha ne-beta. Isigaba se-alpha sine-ductile futhi sithambile; Inokwakheka kwe-cubic egxile emzimbeni (iqembu lesikhala i-Im3m, i-lattice constant a = 0.33058 nm), ukuqina kwe-Knoop 200–400 HN kanye nokumelana kukagesi 15–60 µΩ⋅cm. Isigaba se-beta sinzima futhi sishwabene; i-crystal symmetry yayo i-tetragonal (iqembu lesikhala P42/mnm, a = 1.0194 nm, c = 0.5313 nm), ukuqina kwe-Knoop kungu-1000–1300 HN futhi ukumelana nogesi kuphakeme uma kuqhathaniswa ku-170–210 µΩ⋅cm. Isigaba se-beta siyakwazi ukumetastable futhi siguqulela esigabeni se-alpha lapho sishisisa sibe ngu-750–775 °C. I-Bulk tantalum cishe iyisigaba se-alpha ngokuphelele, futhi isigaba se-beta sivamise ukuba khona njengamafilimu amancanyana atholwe i-magnetron sputtering, i-chemical vapour deposition noma i-electrochemical deposition evela kusixazululo sikasawoti esincibilikisiwe se-eutectic.