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How did tantalum gets its name?

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Anonymous

14y ago
Updated: 8/18/2019

The chemical element tantalum is named after the mythological (Greek Mythology) Tantalus because of its lack of reactivity. As an aside it is also extremely corrosion resistant.

Tantalum was named after Tantalus, due to the metal's inability to absorb acids. Tantalus was a king in Greek mythology who, as punishment for his crimes, had to stand in water which receded each time he stooped to drink it, overhung by grapes that drew back when he tried to reach them.

His name is also the root of the verb "tantalize".

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Wiki User

9y ago

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