Scandium

Scandium
Scandium block | Image: Learnool

Scandium (Sc) is a chemical element of the periodic table, located in the group 3 and the period 4, and has the atomic number 21. It is a soft, silvery-white transition metal, whose name comes from the Latin word “Scandia”, which means Scandinavia. It is counted as one of the rare earth elements.

On periodic table

group 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
period
1 1
H
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Hydrogen
2
He
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Helium
2 3
Li
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Lithium
4
Be
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Beryllium
5
B
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Boron
6
C
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Carbon
7
N
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Nitrogen
8
O
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Oxygen
9
F
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Fluorine
10
Ne
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Neon
3 11
Na
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Sodium
12
Mg
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Magnesium
13
Al
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Aluminium
14
Si
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Silicon
15
P
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Phosphorus
16
S
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Sulfur
17
Cl
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Chlorine
18
Ar
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Argon
4 19
K
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Potassium
20
Ca
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Calcium
21
Sc
Scandium
22
Ti
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Titanium
23
V
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Vanadium
24
Cr
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Chromium
25
Mn
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Manganese
26
Fe
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Iron
27
Co
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Cobalt
28
Ni
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Nickel
29
Cu
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Copper
30
Zn
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Zinc
31
Ga
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Gallium
32
Ge
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Germanium
33
As
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Arsenic
34
Se
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Selenium
35
Br
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Bromine
36
Kr
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Krypton
5 37
Rb
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Rubidium
38
Sr
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Strontium
39
Y
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Yttrium
40
Zr
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Zirconium
41
Nb
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Niobium
42
Mo
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Molybdenum
43
Tc
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Technetium
44
Ru
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Ruthenium
45
Rh
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Rhodium
46
Pd
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Palladium
47
Ag
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Silver
48
Cd
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Cadmium
49
In
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Indium
50
Sn
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Tin
51
Sb
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Antimony
52
Te
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Tellurium
53
I
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Iodine
54
Xe
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Xenon
6 55
Cs
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Caesium
56
Ba
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Barium
72
Hf
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Hafnium
73
Ta
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Tantalum
74
W
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Tungsten
75
Re
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Rhenium
76
Os
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Osmium
77
Ir
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Iridium
78
Pt
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Platinum
79
Au
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Gold
80
Hg
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Mercury
81
Tl
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Thallium
82
Pb
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Lead
83
Bi
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Bismuth
84
Po
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Polonium
85
At
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Astatine
86
Rn
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Radon
7 87
Fr
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Francium
88
Ra
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Radium
104
Rf
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Rutherfordium
105
Db
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Dubnium
106
Sg
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Seaborgium
107
Bh
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Bohrium
108
Hs
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Hassium
109
Mt
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Meitnerium
110
Ds
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Darmstadtium
111
Rg
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Roentgenium
112
Cn
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Copernicium
113
Nh
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Nihonium
114
Fl
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Flerovium
115
Mc
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Moscovium
116
Lv
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Livermorium
117
Ts
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Tennessine
118
Og
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Oganesson
57
La
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Lanthanum
58
Ce
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Cerium
59
Pr
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Praseodymium
60
Nd
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Neodymium
61
Pm
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Promethium
62
Sm
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Samarium
63
Eu
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Europium
64
Gd
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Gadolinium
65
Tb
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Terbium
66
Dy
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Dysprosium
67
Ho
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Holmium
68
Er
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Erbium
69
Tm
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Thulium
70
Yb
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Ytterbium
71
Lu
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Lutetium
89
Ac
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Actinium
90
Th
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Thorium
91
Pa
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Protactinium
92
U
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Uranium
93
Np
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Neptunium
94
Pu
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Plutonium
95
Am
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Americium
96
Cm
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Curium
97
Bk
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Berkelium
98
Cf
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Californium
99
Es
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Einsteinium
100
Fm
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Fermium
101
Md
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Mendelevium
102
No
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Nobelium
103
Lr
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Lawrencium
– d block

Scandium is a d-block element, found in the third column and the fourth row of the periodic table. It has the atomic number 21 and is denoted by the symbol Sc.

Element information

Scandium Element
Scandium appearance | Image: Wikipedia
Scandium Periodic Table
Scandium location on periodic table | Image: Learnool
Scandium is found in the third column of the periodic table, next to the calcium element.
Origin of name Latin word “Scandia” (which means Scandinavia)
Symbol Sc
Atomic number (Z) 21
Atomic mass 44.955912 u
Block d-block
Group 3
Period 4
Classification Transition metal
Atomic radius 162 pm
Covalent radius 170±7 pm
Van der Waals radius 211 pm
Melting point 1541 ℃, 2806 ℉, 1814 K
Boiling point 2836 ℃, 5136 ℉, 3109 K
Electron configuration [Ar] 3d1 4s2
Electrons per shell 2, 8, 9, 2
Learn how to draw: Scandium Bohr model
Crystal structure Hexagonal close-packed (hcp)
Phase at r.t Solid
Density near r.t 2.985 g/cm3
Main isotopes Scandium-45
Natural occurrence Primordial
Oxidation state +3
Electronegativity (Pauling scale) 1.36
Protons
Neutrons
Electrons
21
24
21
Learn how to find: Scandium protons neutrons electrons
CAS number 7440-20-2
Discovered by Lars Fredrik Nilson in 1879

History

Lars Fredrik Nilson | Image: Wikipedia

Scandium was discovered by Swedish chemist Lars Fredrik Nilson in 1879, while he was analyzing rare minerals from Scandinavia. Nilson suspected that he had discovered a new element, but he was unable to isolate it in pure form. In 1880, Nilson’s fellow countryman Per Teodor Cleve succeeded in isolating scandium from the minerals euxenite and gadolinite.

Scandium’s existence and properties had been predicted by Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev in his periodic table, which he had published in 1869. Mendeleev had left gaps in his table to accommodate undiscovered elements, and he had predicted the properties of these elements based on their position in the table. He named the missing element ekaboron, and predicted that it would have chemical properties similar to those of aluminum.

When scandium was discovered, it was found to have many of the properties that Mendeleev had predicted for ekaboron. The element was named after Scandinavia, the region of Europe where it was discovered.

Occurrence and production

Scandium is not found in nature as a free element, but it is widely distributed in minerals. Its abundance in the Earth’s crust is about 22-25 ppm (parts per million).

Scandium is mainly found in two types of ores: thortveitite and wolframite. It is also present in some other minerals, such as bazzite, euxenite, and gadolinite. However, the amounts of scandium in these minerals are typically very low.

Scandium is produced mainly as a byproduct during the processing of various ores, such as uranium, tungsten, and rare earth elements. The production of scandium is still relatively small due to its low abundance and the high costs associated with its extraction and processing.

There are several methods used for the production of scandium, including the extraction from ores, purification of scandium-containing solutions, and electrolytic refining of scandium metal. One of the most common methods is to extract scandium from the red mud generated during the processing of bauxite for the production of alumina. The red mud contains significant amounts of scandium and other rare earth elements, which can be extracted by various chemical methods.

Another source of scandium is from the spent catalysts used in the refining of crude oil. These catalysts contain a small amount of scandium and other transition metals, which can be recovered by pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical methods.

In recent years, several new methods for the production of scandium have been developed, including the use of ion exchange resins and solvent extraction techniques. These methods offer the possibility of producing scandium at a lower cost and in larger quantities, which could lead to an increase in the use of scandium in various applications.

Properties

Scandium is a silvery-white metal that is relatively soft and lightweight.

It has a melting point of 1541 ℃ and a boiling point of 2836 ℃.

Scandium is paramagnetic, meaning it is weakly attracted to a magnetic field.

It is a fairly reactive metal, but it resists corrosion due to a thin layer of oxide that forms on its surface when exposed to air.

Scandium has a relatively high melting point and is a good conductor of electricity and heat.

Scandium is often used as an alloying element with aluminum to improve the strength and durability of aluminum alloys.

Scandium oxide is a highly refractory material that is used in the production of high-intensity lamps and lasers.

Scandium has a very low abundance in the Earth’s crust, making it a relatively rare element.

Scandium has a variety of isotopes, with the most stable being 46Sc, which has a half-life of 83 days.

Applications

Aerospace industry

Scandium alloys are used in aircraft components, including landing gear, jet engine parts, and aerospace structural materials. The addition of scandium increases the strength and durability of aluminum alloys.

Solid oxide fuel cells

Scandium-doped zirconia is used as an electrolyte in solid oxide fuel cells. Scandium increases the ionic conductivity of the electrolyte and improves the fuel cell’s performance.

Sports equipment

Scandium-aluminum alloys are used in sports equipment such as baseball bats, lacrosse sticks, and bicycle frames. The lightweight and high-strength properties of scandium make it an ideal material for these applications.

Lighting

Scandium is used in the manufacture of high-intensity lamps such as metal halide lamps, which are used in stadium and street lighting. The addition of scandium to these lamps increases their energy efficiency, brightness, and color rendering capabilities.

Electronics

Scandium oxide is used as a substrate for high-temperature superconducting thin films in electronic devices such as microwave filters and magnetic sensors.

Medical applications

Scandium-46 is used in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to diagnose and monitor various diseases, including cancer and heart disease.

Glass manufacturing

Scandium oxide is added to glass to improve its durability and resistance to high temperatures, making it ideal for use in high-performance windows and lenses.

Interesting facts

Scandium was the first element to be discovered by spectral analysis.

Scandium is a rare element, found in small quantities in over 800 minerals.

Scandium has been used to make high-intensity lamps for studios and movie sets.

Scandium is used in the aerospace industry for lightweight construction of airplanes and rockets.

Scandium alloyed with aluminum can improve the strength and durability of sports equipment such as bicycle frames and baseball bats.

Scandium has a unique ability to absorb hydrogen, which has led to research into its potential use for hydrogen storage in fuel cells.

Scandium is also being investigated for its potential medical applications, such as cancer treatment and bone regeneration.

Related

More elements

s block
p block
d block
f block
Barium Aluminium Bohrium Actinium
Beryllium Antimony Cadmium Americium
Caesium Argon Chromium Berkelium
Calcium Arsenic Cobalt Californium
Francium Astatine Copernicium Cerium
Helium Bismuth Copper Curium
Hydrogen Boron Darmstadtium Dysprosium
Lithium Bromine Dubnium Einsteinium
Magnesium Carbon Gold Erbium
Potassium Chlorine Hafnium Europium
Radium Flerovium Hassium Fermium
Rubidium Fluorine Iridium Gadolinium
Sodium Gallium Iron Holmium
Strontium Germanium Lawrencium Lanthanum
Indium Lutetium Mendelevium
Iodine Manganese Neodymium
Krypton Meitnerium Neptunium
Lead Mercury Nobelium
Livermorium Molybdenum Plutonium
Moscovium Nickel Praseodymium
Neon Niobium Promethium
Nihonium Osmium Protactinium
Nitrogen Palladium Samarium
Oganesson Platinum Terbium
Oxygen Rhenium Thorium
Phosphorus Rhodium Thulium
Polonium Roentgenium Uranium
Radon Ruthenium Ytterbium
Selenium Rutherfordium
Silicon Scandium
Sulfur Seaborgium
Tellurium Silver
Tennessine Tantalum
Thallium Technetium
Tin Titanium
Xenon Tungsten
Vanadium
Yttrium
Zinc
Zirconium

External links

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Learnool.com was founded by Deep Rana, who is a mechanical engineer by profession and a blogger by passion. He has a good conceptual knowledge on different educational topics and he provides the same on this website. He loves to learn something new everyday and believes that the best utilization of free time is developing a new skill.

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