| Reactions of Tantalum |
 Reactions with water |
| Tantalum does not react with water under normal conditions. The surface of tantalum metal is protected by a thin oxide layer. |
| Reactions with air |
| Tantalum does not react with air under normal conditions. The surface of tantalum metal is protected by a thin oxide layer. |
| Reactions with halogens |
| Tantalum does react with all of the halogens upon warming to form tantalum(V) halides. |
2Ta(s) + 5F2(g) TaF5(s) |
| 2Ta(s) + 5Cl2(g)TaCl5(s) |
| 2Ta(s) + 5Br2(g)TaBr5(s) |
| 2Ta(s) + 5I2(g)TaI5(s) |
| Reactions with acids |
| Tantalum appear not to be attacked by many acids at room temperature but does dissolve in hydrofluoric acid or oleum (a solution
of sulphur trioxide in sulphuric acid also known as fuming sulphuric acid).
|
| Reactions with bases |
| Tantalum metal is attacked by molten alkali. |
2Ta(s) + 5H2O