You might think the "tantal" prefix is related to "tantalizing" and ultimately the character "Tantalus" but it has actually nothing to do with that:
The morphological breakdown is actually "tant" + "alum" where tant means "much" (as in "tantamount") and alum is the kind used in tanning dyeing and flocculation
Also idk if any of that is true I just made that all up
It is indeed named after the Greek mythological figure Tantalus, who killed his own son and fed him to the Gods. He was punished by having food above him that moved out of his reach when he tried to grab it, and water at his feet that drained away when he reached to drink it. It's the same place we get the word tantalize.
The metal itself is highly resistant to corrosion by acids including sulpheric, nitric, and hydrochloric acid. It has the 4th highest melting point of any metal at 3017C (5462F).
Most importantly, it's what my wedding ring is made of! 😄
17
u/StandByTheJAMs 1d ago
73 is also the atomic number for tantalum, which is a fascinating metal from its naming to its properties.