Tantalium

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Tantalum \Tan"ta*lum\, n. [NL. So named on account of the
     perplexity and difficulty encounterd by its discoverer
     (Ekeberg) in isolating it. See {Tantalus}.] (Chem.)
     A rare nonmetallic element found in certain minerals, as
     tantalite, samarskite, and fergusonite, and isolated as a
     dark powder which becomes steel-gray by burnishing. Symbol


     Ta. Atomic weight 182.0. Formerly called also {tantalium}.
     [1913 Webster]