Concentrate is dissolved in HF/H2SO4; Ta is split from Nb by solvent extraction into MIBK (methyl isobutyl ketone). K2TaF7 is reduced with sodium at ~900 °C in a nickel pot.
Research Elements Ta · atomic number 73 Transition metal · period 6, group 5 [Xe] 4f14 5d3 6s2 Shells: 2, 8, 18, 32, 11, 2 Valence electrons: 2 in the outer shell (6s2), and 3 in 5d3 Green dots are the outer shell's s and p electrons. Softer green dots are the d electrons of transition metals, and the d and f electrons of lanthanides and actinides: they often take part in bonding, but not always. Grey dots are the core. Ground-state configuration from the NIST Atomic Spectra Database (A. Kramida, Yu. Ralchenko, J. Reader and the NIST ASD Team). Abundance is the mole fraction of the element found as that isotope on Earth; digits in parentheses are the uncertainty in the last digits. Masses and abundances from NIST, Atomic Weights and Isotopic Compositions (J. S. Coursey, D. J. Schwab, J. J. Tsai and R. A. Dragoset, National Institute of Standards and Technology).Tantalum
Electrons
How it's obtained
Natural isotopes
Isotope Relative atomic mass Abundance 180Ta 179.9474648(24) 0.0001201(32) 181Ta 180.9479958(20) 0.9998799(32)