Compare Neptunium vs Tantalum: Periodic Table Element Comparison Table and Properties
Compare the elements Neptunium and Tantalum on the basis of their properties, attributes and periodic table facts. Compare elements - Neptunium and Tantalum comparison table side by side across over 90 properties. All the elements of similar categories show a lot of similarities and differences in their chemical, atomic, physical properties and uses. These similarities and dissimilarities should be known while we study periodic table elements. You can study the detailed comparison between Neptunium vs Tantalum with most reliable information about their properties, attributes, facts, uses etc. You can compare Np vs Ta on more than 90 properties like electronegativity, oxidation state, atomic shells, orbital structure, Electronaffinity, physical states, electrical conductivity and many more. This in-depth comparison helps students, educators, researchers, and science enthusiasts understand the differences and similarities between Neptunium and Tantalum.
Neptunium and Tantalum Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison between Neptunium (Np) and Tantalum (Ta), focusing on their position in the periodic table, physical and chemical properties, stability, and uses.
Facts - Basic Element Details
| Name | Neptunium | Tantalum |
|---|---|---|
| Atomic Number | 93 | 73 |
| Atomic Symbol | Np | Ta |
| Atomic Weight | 237 | 180.9479 |
| Phase at STP | Solid | Solid |
| Color | Silver | Gray |
| Metallic Classification | Actinide | Transition Metal |
| Group in Periodic Table | Actinide (no group number) | group 5 |
| Group Name | vanadium family | |
| Period in Periodic Table | period 7 | period 6 |
| Block in Periodic Table | f -block | d -block |
| Electronic Configuration | [Rn] 5f4 6d1 7s2 | [Xe] 4f14 5d3 6s2 |
| Electronic Shell Structure (Electrons per shell) | 2, 8, 18, 32, 22, 9, 2 | 2, 8, 18, 32, 11, 2 |
| Melting Point | 917 K | 3290 K |
| Boiling Point | 4273 K | 5731 K |
| CAS Number | CAS7439-99-8 | CAS7440-25-7 |
| Neighborhood Elements | Neighborhood Elements of Neptunium | Neighborhood Elements of Tantalum |
History
| Parameter | Neptunium | Tantalum |
|---|---|---|
| History | The element Neptunium was discovered by E.M. McMillan and H. Abelson in year 1940 in United States. Neptunium derived its name from Neptune, the eighth planet in the Solar System. | The element Tantalum was discovered by G. Ekeberg in year 1802 in Sweden. Tantalum derived its name from King Tantalus, father of Niobe from Greek mythology. |
| Discovery | E.M. McMillan and H. Abelson (1940) | G. Ekeberg (1802) |
| Isolated | () | () |
Presence: Abundance in Nature and Around Us
Parts per billion (ppb) by weight / by atoms (1ppb =10^-7 %)
| Property | Neptunium | Tantalum |
|---|---|---|
| Abundance in Universe | - / - | 0.08 / 0.0006 |
| Abundance in Sun | - / - | - / - |
| Abundance in Meteorites | - / - | 20 / 2 |
| Abundance in Earth's Crust | - / - | 1700 / 190 |
| Abundance in Oceans | - / - | 0.002 / 0.000068 |
| Abundance in Humans | - / - | - / - |
Crystal Structure and Atomic Structure
| Property | Neptunium | Tantalum |
|---|---|---|
| Atomic Volume | 11.5892 cm3/mol | 10.85 cm3/mol |
| Atomic Radius | 175 pm | 200 pm |
| Covalent Radius | - | 138 pm |
| Van der Waals Radius | - | - |
Atomic Spectrum - Spectral Lines | ||
| Emission Spectrum | Not available |  |
| Absorption Spectrum |  |  |
| Lattice Constant | 666.3, 472.3, 488.7 pm | 330.13, 330.13, 330.13 pm |
| Lattice Angle | π/2, π/2, π/2 | π/2, π/2, π/2 |
| Space Group Name | Pnma | Im_ 3m |
| Space Group Number | 62 | 229 |
| Crystal Structure | Simple Orthorhombic  | Body Centered Cubic  |
Atomic and Orbital Properties
| Property | Neptunium | Tantalum |
|---|---|---|
| Atomic Number | 93 | 73 |
| Number of Electrons (with no charge) | 93 | 73 |
| Number of Protons | 93 | 73 |
| Mass Number | 237 | 180.9479 |
| Number of Neutrons | 144 | 108 |
| Shell structure (Electrons per energy level) | 2, 8, 18, 32, 22, 9, 2 | 2, 8, 18, 32, 11, 2 |
| Electron Configuration | [Rn] 5f4 6d1 7s2 | [Xe] 4f14 5d3 6s2 |
| Valence Electrons | 5f4 6d1 7s2 | 5d3 6s2 |
| Oxidation State | 5 | 5 |
| Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers) | 6L11/2 | 4F3/2 |
| Shell structure |  |  |
Isotopes and Nuclear Properties
Neptunium has 0 stable naturally occuring isotopes while Tantalum has 1 stable naturally occuring isotopes.
| Parameter | Neptunium | Tantalum |
|---|---|---|
| Known Isotopes | 225Np, 226Np, 227Np, 228Np, 229Np, 230Np, 231Np, 232Np, 233Np, 234Np, 235Np, 236Np, 237Np, 238Np, 239Np, 240Np, 241Np, 242Np, 243Np, 244Np | 155Ta, 156Ta, 157Ta, 158Ta, 159Ta, 160Ta, 161Ta, 162Ta, 163Ta, 164Ta, 165Ta, 166Ta, 167Ta, 168Ta, 169Ta, 170Ta, 171Ta, 172Ta, 173Ta, 174Ta, 175Ta, 176Ta, 177Ta, 178Ta, 179Ta, 180Ta, 181Ta, 182Ta, 183Ta, 184Ta, 185Ta, 186Ta, 187Ta, 188Ta, 189Ta, 190Ta |
| Stable Isotopes | - | Naturally occurring stable isotopes: 181Ta |
| Neutron Cross Section | 180 | 20.5 |
| Neutron Mass Absorption | - | 0.0041 |
Chemical Properties: Ionization Energies and electron affinity
| Property | Neptunium | Tantalum |
|---|---|---|
| Valence or Valency | 6 | 5 |
| Electronegativity | 1.36 Pauling Scale | 1.5 Pauling Scale |
| Oxidation State | 5 | 5 |
| Electron Affinity | - | 31 kJ/mol |
| Ionization Energies | 1st: 604.5 kJ/mol | 1st: 761 kJ/mol 2nd: 1500 kJ/mol |
Physical Properties
Tantalum (16.65 g/cm³) is less dense than Neptunium (20.45 g/cm³). This means that a given volume of Neptunium will be heavier than the same volume of Tantalum. Neptunium is about 22.8 denser than Tantalum
| Property | Neptunium | Tantalum |
|---|---|---|
| Phase at STP | Solid | Solid |
| Color | Silver | Gray |
| Density | 20.45 g/cm3 | 16.65 g/cm3 |
| Density (when liquid (at melting point)) | - | 15 g/cm3 |
| Molar Volume | 11.5892 cm3/mol | 10.85 cm3/mol |
Mechanical and Hardness Properties
| Property | Neptunium | Tantalum |
|---|---|---|
Elastic Properties | ||
| Young Modulus | - | 186 |
| Shear Modulus | - | 69 GPa |
| Bulk Modulus | - | 200 GPa |
| Poisson Ratio | - | 0.34 |
Hardness - Tests to Measure of Hardness of Element | ||
| Mohs Hardness | - | 6.5 MPa |
| Vickers Hardness | - | 873 MPa |
| Brinell Hardness | - | 800 MPa |
Thermal and Electrical Conductivity
| Property | Neptunium | Tantalum |
|---|---|---|
Heat and Conduction Properties | ||
| Thermal Conductivity | 6 W/(m K) | 57 W/(m K) |
| Thermal Expansion | - | 0.0000063 /K |
Electrical Properties | ||
| Electrical Conductivity | 830000 S/m | 7700000 S/m |
| Resistivity | 0.0000012 m Ω | 1.3e-7 m Ω |
| Superconducting Point | - | 4.47 |
Magnetic and Optical Properties
| Property | Neptunium | Tantalum |
|---|---|---|
Magnetic Properties | ||
| Magnetic Type | - | Paramagnetic |
| Curie Point | - | - |
| Mass Magnetic Susceptibility | - | 1.07e-8 m3/kg |
| Molar Magnetic Susceptibility | - | 1.936e-9 m3/mol |
| Volume Magnetic Susceptibility | - | 0.0001782 |
Optical Properties | ||
| Refractive Index | - | - |
Acoustic Properties | ||
| Speed of Sound | - | 3614.2 m/s |
Thermal Properties - Enthalpies and thermodynamics
| Property | Neptunium | Tantalum |
|---|---|---|
| Melting Point | 917 K | 3290 K |
| Boiling Point | 4273 K | 5731 K |
| Critical Temperature | - | - |
| Superconducting Point | - | 4.47 |
Enthalpies | ||
| Heat of Fusion | 10 kJ/mol | 36 kJ/mol |
| Heat of Vaporization | 335 kJ/mol | 735 kJ/mol |
| Heat of Combustion | - | - |
Regulatory and Health - Health and Safety Parameters and Guidelines
| Parameter | Neptunium | Tantalum |
|---|---|---|
| CAS Number | CAS7439-99-8 | CAS7440-25-7 |
| RTECS Number | - | RTECSWW5505000 |
| DOT Hazard Class | - | 4.1 |
| DOT Numbers | - | 3089 |
| EU Number | - | - |
| NFPA Fire Rating | - | - |
| NFPA Health Rating | - | - |
| NFPA Reactivity Rating | - | - |
| NFPA Hazards | - | - |
| AutoIgnition Point | - | - |
| Flashpoint | - | - |
Compare Neptunium and Tantalum With Other Elements
Compare Neptunium and Tantalum with other elements of the periodic table. Explore howNeptunium and Tantalum stack up against other elements of the periodic table. Use our interactive comparison tool to analyze 90+ properties across different metals, non-metals, metalloids, and noble gases. Understanding these differences is crucial for applications in engineering, chemistry, electronics, biology, and material science.