Element 73 · Tantalum (Ta)

Tantalum Bohr model: diagram and electrons per shell

The tantalum Bohr model shows a tantalum atom (Ta) as a small nucleus with its electrons circling it in 6 shells: 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 32 in shell N, 11 in shell O and 2 in shell P. This page has a rotating 3D tantalum Bohr model, a flat diagram, a table of the electrons in each shell and the steps to draw it yourself.

Rotate the tantalum Bohr model in 3D

Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom.

This is a Bohr model of tantalum (Ta), a simplified picture of a single tantalum atom. Its nucleus holds 73 protons, and a neutral tantalum atom has 73 electrons, arranged around it in 6 shells (2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 32 in shell N, 11 in shell O and 2 in shell P).

Ta K · 21s² L · 82s² 2p⁶ M · 183s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ N · 324s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ O · 115s² 5p⁶ 5d³ P · 26s²

Tantalum Bohr model diagram

Bohr model diagram of tantalum: a nucleus of 73 protons with 73 electrons on 6 shells, 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 32 in shell N, 11 in shell O and 2 in shell P, each ring labelled with its shell letter. — The tantalum Bohr model drawn flat: each ring is a shell, labelled with its letter, and every dot is an electron (2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 32 in shell N, 11 in shell O and 2 in shell P).

Tantalum electrons per shell

A neutral tantalum atom has 73 electrons, one for each of its 73 protons. They fill the shells from the nucleus outwards: 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 32 in shell N, 11 in shell O and 2 in shell P.

Electrons in each shell of the tantalum Bohr model
Shell	Shell number (n)	Electrons	Most it can hold (2n²)	Subshells
K	1	2	2	1s²
L	2	8	8	2s² 2p⁶
M	3	18	18	3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰
N	4	32	32	4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴
O	5	11	50	5s² 5p⁶ 5d³
P	6	2	72	6s²

How the tantalum Bohr model builds up, shell by shell

Watch the tantalum Bohr model come together: the nucleus first, then each shell in turn, from the innermost outwards, with its electrons joining the ring. The legend names every shell and counts its electrons, so you can read off the arrangement (2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 32 in shell N, 11 in shell O and 2 in shell P) as it forms.

Animation of the tantalum Bohr model being built: a nucleus of 73 protons appears first, then each shell grows in around it and takes its electrons, giving 73 electrons on 6 shells (2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 32 in shell N, 11 in shell O and 2 in shell P). — The tantalum Bohr model built up in six seconds: the nucleus first, then each shell with its electrons, ending with 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 32 in shell N, 11 in shell O and 2 in shell P. Protons are red, neutrons yellow and electrons blue.

How to draw the tantalum Bohr model

Find the atomic number. Tantalum has atomic number 73, so a neutral atom has 73 protons and 73 electrons.
Draw the nucleus. Put a circle in the centre and write Ta in it. The 73 protons sit there with the neutrons.
Draw the shells. Sketch 6 shells as rings around the nucleus. A shell holds at most 2n² electrons: 2 in the first, 8 in the second, 18 in the third and 32 in the fourth.
Place the electrons. Fill from the inside out: 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 32 in shell N, 11 in shell O and 2 in shell P.
Check the total. 2 + 8 + 18 + 32 + 11 + 2 = 73, the atomic number, so every electron is accounted for.

Atomic data for the tantalum Bohr model

The numbers behind the tantalum Bohr model, grouped by topic. Radii are in picometres (pm) and energies in kilojoules per mole (kJ/mol).

Identity

Symbol: Ta
Atomic number: 73
Atomic mass: 180.9479 u
Family: Transition Metals
Position: group 5, period 6
Block: d-block

Electron configuration

Full: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶ 6s² 4f¹⁴ 5d³
Shorthand: [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d³ 6s²
Electrons per shell: 2, 8, 18, 32, 11, 2
Outer-shell electrons: 2 in shell P

Ionisation energies

I₁: 761
I₂: 1500

Energy to remove each electron in turn (kJ/mol). A sharp jump means the next electron comes from an inner shell.

Atomic radii

Calculated (pm): 200
Empirical (pm): 145
Covalent (pm): 146

Electronegativity and electron affinity

Electronegativity (Pauling): 1.5
Electron affinity (kJ/mol): 31

Oxidation states

Charges the element commonly takes in compounds.

Physical properties, abundance and history of tantalum

Bulk properties of tantalum, how common it is, who discovered it and some of its compounds.

Physical properties

Phase at room conditions: Solid
Appearance: Gray blue
Melting point: 3016.85°C (3290 K)
Boiling point: 5457.85°C (5731 K)
Density: 16.69 g/cm³
Thermal conductivity (W/m·K): 57.5
Specific heat (J/g·K): 0.14
Molar heat capacity (J/mol·K): 25.36
Heat of fusion (kJ/mol): 24.7
Heat of vaporisation (kJ/mol): 758

Abundance

Earth's crust (mg/kg): 2
Oceans (mg/L): 0

Discovery

Discovered by: Anders Gustaf Ekeberg
Year: 1802

Common compounds

Tantalum Ta
Potassium fluorotantalate F7K2Ta
Tantalum pentachloride Cl5Ta
Tantalum bromide Br5Ta
Aluminum, Compd. With Tantalum (3:1) Al3H9Ta
Tantalum carbide CH4Ta
Tantalum pentafluoride F5Ta
ethanol, tantalum(5+) salt C10H25O5Ta

Compounds listed in the PubChem database.

Main isotopes of tantalum

Isotopes of tantalum share the same 73 protons but differ in neutrons. Natural isotopes come first, then the longest-lived others.

Main isotopes of tantalum: mass number, abundance, half-life and decay
Mass number	Natural abundance	Half-life	Decay
175	–	10.5 h	β⁺
177	–	56.36 h	β⁺
179	–	1.82 y	EC
181	99.988 %	stable	–
182	–	114.74 d	β⁻
183	–	5.1 d	β⁻

α = alpha decay, β⁻ = beta-minus, β⁺ = beta-plus, EC = electron capture, SF = spontaneous fission, p / n = proton / neutron emission.

More about tantalum

Tantalum on the periodic table – properties, isotopes, uses and the full tantalum page.
Transition Metals – all transition metal elements and their trends.
Bohr model of every element – the Bohr model of all 118 elements.