Tantalum
The name of element 73 in the periodic table is derived from the ancient Greek mythological character Tantalus, whose punishment for sacrificing his son was to stand in a lake in the afterworld, surrounded by water but unable to drink. Swedish chemist Anders Ekeberg chose the name after he discovered the element tantalum in 1802, because tantalum’s oxide would not react with acids, even plentiful amounts of very strong acids, unlike the compounds of most other metals. The inert nature of tantalum makes it ideal for certain medical implants, including screws used to hold together bones, artificial joints and plates in the skull. Combined with its strength, this inertness makes it ideal in making vessels and pipes in the pharmaceutical and food industries.