Tantalum Carbide, TaC

Tantalum Carbide, TaC, has been prepared by heating a mixture of tantalum pentoxide and carbon in a molybdenum boat at 1250° C. in a stream of hydrogen, or by the action of hydrogen and carbon monoxide on tantalum pentachloride. It is a dark grey or black substance which is insoluble in all acids, and burns to the pentoxide when powdered and heated in air. Density = 13.96. It melts with decomposition at 4100° abs., which is probably the highest melting-point yet recorded for a chemical compound. Its hardness coefficient lies between 9 and 10. It is a good conductor of electricity. For its crystal structure see reference cited.