Tantalum is one of five refractory metals,
where a high melting point settles.
It has a brilliant grey-blue shine,
and is highly affine to flourine,

With that powder of the metal is produced,
and of course in powder metallurgy used.
You need inert gas or vacuum,
otherwise it will turn to oxides soon.

Another possibility is sheets and wires,
due to its ductily, the shape one desires.
It can form ceramics with carbon black,
and nitrides not to forget.

Tantalum is hardly ever pure,
in every bit Niobium is for sure.
This is why they got their names,
out of greek gods‘ games.

Tantalus is Niobes father,
he got punished hard and harder.
For desiring what gods wanted,
from thirst and hunger he got haunted.

But that is another story,
the greeks and their mythologies glory.
Tantalum is used for surgical equip,
no matter if tools or an artificial hip.

Tantal is used for tubes in metalworking industry,
due to its excellent corrosion resistancy.
For electronic parts, it is of high interest,
for resistors and capacitors it is the best.

Forming a thin oxide layer is the trick,
the properties get worse if it is too thick.
As carbide it is a hard material,
and it is hexoctahedral.

Tantalum, a very important element,
antiallergic, corrosion resistant,
high melting point, ductile,
forms oxides and nitrides after a short while.

Probably not everyday,
but Tantalum is important I would say,
Non ferric, non magnetic,
wonderful and esthetic.