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TANTALUM (n. pl. -S)
Definition(s):
- (n.) a hard, grayish-white, rare, metallic element (symbol Ta), used especially in electronic components and nuclear reactors
Useful information for game players:
- Front hooks: (none)
- Back hooks: -S
- Anagrams: (none)
- Longer extensions: (none)
- Wraparounds: (none)
- Other Spellings: (none)
- Related Forms: TANTALIC (adj.), TANTALOUS (adj.), TANTALATE (n.), TANTALITE (n.)
Epilogue:
This metallic element was named after Tantalus of Greek mythology because of its insolubility in acids. Tantalus was forced to endure an eternity of hunger and thirst by being made to stand in a pool in Hades, in which the water drained away each time he knelt to drink from it and in which overhanging fruit boughs receded from his grasp each time he reached for them — a TANTALIZING situation, for sure, and the word TANTALIZE (or TANTALISE) does indeed derive from his name. The word TANTALUS (“a type of locked wine case whose contents are visible but cannot be obtained without a key”) is also named in honor of this tortured Greek mythological figure.
This week’s theme:
Three new elements recently received official names: darmstadtium (Ds), roentgenium (Rg), and copernicium (Cn). Each of these new elements were named after people or places, as are many others on the periodic table, but some elements have less obvious histories. This week we’ll explore a few element names with fascinating etymologies.
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