39

Y

Yttrium
88.90585 (2)
 Historical Information

Yttria (yttrium oxide, Y2O3), was discovered by Johann Gadolin in 1794 in a mineral called gadolinite from Ytterby. Ytterby is the site of a quarry in Sweden which contains many unusual minerals containing erbium, terbium, and ytterbium as well as yttrium. Friedrich Wohler obtained the impure element in 1828 by reduction of the anhydrous chloride (YCl3) with potassium.
Basic Information Shells
  • Name: Yttrium
  • Symbol: Y
  • Atomic number: 39
  • Atomic weight:88.90585 (2)
  • Standard state: solid at 298 K
  • Group in periodic table: 3
  • Group name:none
  • Period in periodic table: 5
  • Block in periodic table: d-block
  • Classification: Metallic
 yttrium
Uses Trivia
  • used in laser systems
  • used as a catalyst for ethene polymerization
  • yttrium aluminium garnet is a gemstone (simulated diamond)

Yttrium has a silvery-metallic lustre. Yttrium turnings ignite in air. Yttrium is found in most rare-earth minerals. Moon rocks contain yttrium and yttrium is used as a "phosphor" to produce the red colour in television screens.