[mass noun]the chemical element of atomic number 73, a hard silver-grey metal of the transition series(Symbol: Ta) (化学元素)钽(符号:Ta)
A transition metal, tantalum is rare in nature and usually occurs in association with niobium, which it resembles. Tantalum alloys have some specialized uses, and the metal was formerly used for electric light filaments
派生 tantalic adjective 语源
early 19th cent.: from Tantalus, with reference to its frustrating insolubility in acids