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Tantalum, atomic structure
Tantalum (Ta). Diagram of the nuclear composition, electron configuration, chemical data, and valence orbitals of an atom of tantalum-181 (atomic number: 73), the most common isotope of this element. The nucleus consists of 73 protons (red) and 108 neutrons (orange). 73 electrons (white) successively occupy available electron shells (rings). Tantalum is a transition metal in group 5, period 6, and the d-block of the periodic table. It has a melting point of 3017 degrees Celsius. The transition metal trends are due to electrons filling an inner d-subshell (here, within the 5th ring), shielding the outer (valence) electrons from the increasing nuclear charge.
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