Scandium (Sc)
Introduction
Scandium is number 21 on the periodic table. Therefore it has 21 protons and electrons. It's atomic mass is 44.95591. Scandium has 24 neutrons. It is a metal.
Physical features
Scandium is a soft, silvery-white element. Scandium's boiling point is 2,830 degrees Celsius, (or 1813.2 K). Its melting point is 1,541 degrees Celsius, (or 3103 K). When scandium is oxidized it turns to a yellowish-pinkish color. Scandium is light and strong.
Cool Facts
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Scandium is classified as a Rare Earth Element. The other rare earth elements are: yttrium (Y), lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), promethium (Pm), samarium (Sm), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb), and lutetium (Lu). Scandium is also a transition metal. The other transition metals are: titanium (Ti), vadadium (V), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), yttrium (Y), zirconium (Zr), niobium (Nb), molybdenum (Mo), technetium (Tc), ruthenium (Ru), rhodium (Rh), palladium (Pd), silver (Ag), cadmium (Cd), hafnium (Hf), tantalum (Ta), tungsten (W), rhenium (Re), and osmium (Os). Scandium can only be found attached to other elements, usually refined uranium (U).Scandium costs $270 per gram. First pure scandium was given to the US Air Force. Scandium is not like most other rare elements. Most elements, even if rare, can be found in some place in quantity. Scandium is spread thinly everywhere.
Uses for Scandium
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Scandium is used to make high intensity lights. Scandium can also make a harsh light, more like pleasant sunlight. When mixed with aluminum, it creates one of the strongest aluminum alloys in the world. This is used to make bicycle frames, fighter jets, lacrosse sticks, the aerospace industry, and baseball bats, however these products are much more expensive than the usual kind. People are thinking about putting hydrogen in gas tanks to power the car. If you effect the chemical structure of scandium so it could absorb the hydrogen it would mean that it would be very light-weight. It is an important part of aquamarine crystals.
Discovery FactsScandium was discovered in 1879, by Lars Fredrik Nilsan in Uppsala, Sweden. Nelson was trying to isolate yttrbium from the minerals euxenite and gadolinite (which had only been found in scandinavia), while he was doing this he discovered scandium. Because these minerals mostly came from Scandinavia. Nilson named scandium after his home, Scandinavia. Scandia means Scandinavia in latin.
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Where scandium was discovered |
Why Scandium is Important
Scandium is important because it is light and strong. These features are what people look for in making sports equipment, airplanes, and aerospace products. Scandium is used a lot in the US air force.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkKv5ilmRjY
Bibliography
Chemicool.com. "Scandium Element Facts." Chemicool. Chemicool.com, 18 Oct. 2012. Web. 21 Mar. 2013.
Columbia University Press. "Scandium." Chemical Elements Table. Infoplease, 2012. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.
Gagnon, Steve. "The Element Scandium." It's Elemental -. Jefferson Lab, n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2013.
Gray, Theodore W. ., and Nick Mann. "Scandium." The Elements. iPad ed. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal & Touch Press, 2012. 21. Print.
Haran, Brady. "Scandium - Periodic Table of Videos." YouTube. The University of Nottingham, 30 June 2008. Web. 14 Mar. 2013.
Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Scandium Facts." Periodic Table of Elements. About.com, 2013. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.
Rader, Andrew. "Neutron Madness." Chem4Kids.com: Atoms: Isotopes. Andrew Rader Studios, 2012. Web. 14 Mar. 2013.
Rader, Andrew. "Where Else Can You Find Scandium?" Chem4Kids.com: Scandium: Say It. Andrew Rader Studios, 2012. Web. 17 Mar. 2013.
Stwertka, Albert. "Scandium." A Guide to the Elements. New York: Oxford UP, 1998. 79-80. Print.
Taylor, R. Craig. "Scandium." The World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago, IL: World Book, 2009. 171-72. Print.
Columbia University Press. "Scandium." Chemical Elements Table. Infoplease, 2012. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.
Gagnon, Steve. "The Element Scandium." It's Elemental -. Jefferson Lab, n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2013.
Gray, Theodore W. ., and Nick Mann. "Scandium." The Elements. iPad ed. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal & Touch Press, 2012. 21. Print.
Haran, Brady. "Scandium - Periodic Table of Videos." YouTube. The University of Nottingham, 30 June 2008. Web. 14 Mar. 2013.
Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Scandium Facts." Periodic Table of Elements. About.com, 2013. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.
Rader, Andrew. "Neutron Madness." Chem4Kids.com: Atoms: Isotopes. Andrew Rader Studios, 2012. Web. 14 Mar. 2013.
Rader, Andrew. "Where Else Can You Find Scandium?" Chem4Kids.com: Scandium: Say It. Andrew Rader Studios, 2012. Web. 17 Mar. 2013.
Stwertka, Albert. "Scandium." A Guide to the Elements. New York: Oxford UP, 1998. 79-80. Print.
Taylor, R. Craig. "Scandium." The World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago, IL: World Book, 2009. 171-72. Print.