21

Sc

Scandium
44.955912 (6)
 Historical Information

Scandium was discovered by Lars Frederick Nilson (a Scandinavian) in 1876 in the minerals euxenite and gadolinite, which had not yet been found anywhere except in Scandinavia. He and his coworkers were actually looking for rare earth metals. By processing 10 kg of euxenite and other residues of rare-earth minerals, Nilson was able to prepare about 2 g of scandium oxide of high purity.

Basic Information Shells
  • Name:Scandium
  • Symbol: Sc
  • Atomic number: 21
  • Atomic weight:44.955912 (6)
  • Standard state: solid at 298 K
  • Group in periodic table: 3
  • Group name:none
  • Period in periodic table: 4
  • Block in periodic table: d-block
  • Classification: Metallic
 scandium
Uses Trivia
  • the iodide added to mercury vapour lamps and produces a highly efficient light source resembling sunlight, which is important for indoor or night-time colour TV transmission.

Scandium is a silvery-white metal which develops a slightly yellowish or pinkish cast upon exposure to air. It is relatively soft, and resembles yttrium and the rare-earth metals.