Tantalum - The MOST CONFLICT Metal On EARTH!

Summary

This video delves into tantalum, a rare and conflict-inducing metal, highlighting its chemical stability, high ductility, and various applications. Tantalum, extracted from coltan and linked to African conflicts, is valued for its use in capacitors, jewelry, and medical implants. The video also showcases tantalum's electro-chemical coloration, its role in creating gamma-ray absorbing glass, and its significance in high-temperature alloys and commemorative coins.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Tantalum is a refractory and conflict-making metal located in the fifth group of the periodic table.
• 🏺 Named after the Greek king Tantalus, the metal's rarity and difficulty in extraction reflect the king's eternal torment.
• 📏 Tantalum is grey, shiny, and has a density second only to gold, making it quite heavy and expensive at around $150 per kilogram.
• 🌐 The metal's ductility allows for easy wire or foil production, and it is extracted primarily from Central Africa, particularly from the mineral Coltan.
• ⚔ Tantalum is dubbed a 'conflict metal' due to military conflicts in African countries like Congo and Rwanda over its ore smuggling.
• 🛡 Chemically, Tantalum is extremely stable and resistant to corrosion, not dissolving in dilute acids except in a mixture of hydrofluoric and nitric acid.
• 🔥 In powdered form, Tantalum burns in air to form Tantalum Oxide, which is used in gamma-ray absorbing glass.
• 💡 Historically used in light bulb filaments, Tantalum has been replaced with cheaper Tungsten due to its rising cost.
• ⚡ Tantalum's resistivity is comparable to steel, and it can be used in high-temperature heating elements, melting at approximately 3,000 degrees Celsius.
• 📱 Tantalum's most significant modern application is in the production of Tantalum capacitors, crucial for electronics in computers, smartphones, and tablets.
• 💍 Tantalum's non-toxicity and density make it a novel material for jewelry, with anodization allowing for color variation for aesthetic appeal.
• 🛠 Beyond jewelry, Tantalum is utilized in super-alloys, bio-prostheses due to its bio-compatibility, and even in commemorative coins.

Q & A

What is the significance of the name 'Tantalum' for the metal?

Tantalum was named after the Greek king Tantalus, who offended Zeus and the other gods, resulting in eternal torment. This reflects the struggles scientists and researchers faced in obtaining the element in its pure form.

How does Tantalum's density compare to other metals, particularly Gold?

Tantalum is quite heavy, with its density coming next after Gold, making it one of the densest metals.

What is the approximate market price for 1kg of Tantalum?

The current market price for 1kg of Tantalum is around $150, indicating its high cost.

Why is Tantalum referred to as a 'conflict-making metal'?

Tantalum is called a conflict-making metal because of the military conflicts in African countries, such as Congo and Rwanda, over the smuggling and control of Tantalum ore.

What makes Tantalum chemically stable?

Tantalum's chemical stability comes from a robust oxide film that covers the metal, making it insoluble in dilute acids, including hydrochloric acid.

Which mixture of acids can dissolve Tantalum?

A mixture of Hydrofluoric acid and Nitric acid can dissolve Tantalum, forming a complex compound that is soluble in water.

How does Tantalum react with molten alkalies?

Tantalum reacts with molten alkalies to form Tantalates. For example, Sodium Hydroxide can dissolve Tantalum when heated, even burning a hole in the Tantalum foil.

What is one of the main applications of Tantalum in the modern electronics industry?

One of the most important applications of Tantalum is in the manufacturing of Tantalum capacitors, which are known for their high efficiency and small size due to the thin dielectric film.

Why is Tantalum being considered for use in jewelry?

Tantalum is being considered for jewelry because it is dense, non-toxic to humans, and can be colored using electro-chemical processes to create aesthetically pleasing effects.

How can Tantalum be made to have different colors?

Tantalum can be made to have different colors through anodization, where the applied voltage determines the thickness of the Tantalum Oxide film, which in turn affects the color reflected from the metal surface.

What is the significance of Tantalum's bio-compatibility in medical applications?

Tantalum's excellent bio-compatibility makes it suitable for use as a bio-prosthesis in surgeries, indicating its safety and effectiveness for long-term implantation in the human body.

Why was Tantalum used in the creation of commemorative coins by Kazakhstan in 2006?

Kazakhstan chose to use Tantalum in commemorative coins made of Silver and Tantalum in 2006, likely due to its unique properties, such as its rarity, density, and chemical stability.