Tantalum (Ta): Bohr Model, Protons, Neutrons & Electrons
Tantalum is element number 73, a transition metal in group 5, period 6. Its atom has 73 protons, 108 neutrons and 73 electrons arranged in 6 shells: 2, 8, 18, 32, 11, 2.
Protons, neutrons and electrons in tantalum
ال atomic number of tantalum is 73, so every tantalum atom has 73 protons. A neutral atom has the same number of electrons, 73. The number of neutrons depends on the isotope: neutrons = mass number − atomic number. For tantalum-181, that is 181 − 73 = 108 neutrons. Tantalum has 2 stable isotopes, with 107, 108 neutrons.
How to draw the Bohr model of tantalum
- Draw the nucleus and write 73 p⁺ تم تصميم [الخدمة] لمتعلمين من جميع الأعمار، بما في ذلك طلاب المدارس. 108 n⁰ inside it.
- Draw the first shell and put 2 electrons on it (the first shell holds at most 2).
- Draw the second shell and put 8 electrons on it.
- Draw the third shell and put 18 electrons on it.
- Draw the fourth shell and put 32 electrons on it.
- Draw the fifth shell and put 11 electrons on it.
- Draw the sixth shell and put 2 electrons on it.
- Check: 2 + 8 + 18 + 32 + 11 + 2 = 73 electrons, the same as the number of protons.
From potassium onwards the shells don’t simply fill as 2, 8, 8: the fourth shell starts before the third is full, so the real arrangement above (2, 8, 18, 32, 11, 2) is the one to draw.
Electron configuration
The electron configuration of tantalum is [Xe] 6s² 4f¹⁴ 5d³. As a transition metal it fills an inner d-subshell, and its common ion is Ta⁵⁺.
Key facts about tantalum
| Symbol | Ta |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 73 |
| Relative atomic mass | 180.95 |
| Group · period · block | group 5 · period 6 · d-block |
| نوع | Transition Metal |
| State at 25 °C | solid |
| أغلفة الإلكترون | 2, 8, 18, 32, 11, 2 |
| Electron configuration | [Xe] 6s² 4f¹⁴ 5d³ |
| Valence electrons | varies (outer shell: 2) |
| Common ion | Ta⁵⁺ |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 1.50 |
| First ionisation energy | 7.55 eV (728 kJ/mol) |
| Atomic radius (empirical) | 145 pm |
Where tantalum sits on the periodic table
الأسئلة الشائعة
How many protons, neutrons and electrons does tantalum have?
Tantalum has 73 protons and 73 electrons (atomic number 73). Its most common isotope, tantalum-181, has 181 − 73 = 108 neutrons.
What is the electron configuration of tantalum?
[Xe] 6s² 4f¹⁴ 5d³. In shells that is 2, 8, 18, 32, 11, 2.
How many valence electrons does tantalum have?
Tantalum is a transition metal, so its valence electrons are spread over two shells; its outermost shell holds 2.
Where is tantalum on the periodic table?
In group 5, period 6, in the d-block. It is a transition metal.
