Atomic Number: 21 Period Number:4 Group Number: 3
Scandium is a silvery-white transition metal, which belongs to rare-earth material. The sources of it are Scandinavia and Madagascar. There is a big range for isotopes of scandium: 36 to 60 and only one isotope exists in nature: 45Sc.
It is present in most of the deposits of rare earth and uranium compounds but it is only mined a few places throughout the world. It is mined in two Russian locations and one Chinese. Roughly only 400 kg of scandium oxide is produced every year with an additional 10kg of of metallic scandium.
Scandium has positive effects on aluminum alloys and most of scandium is consumed by this way. Aluminum- scandium alloy is used for aerospace industry, sports equipment, etc.
Scandium iodide and Scandium sulfate are two important scandium compounds. Scandium iodide is used added to mercury vapor lamps so that they will emit light that closely resembles sunlight. Scandium sulfate is used to improve the germination of seeds such as peas and corns.
Physical and Chemical properties:
Atomic Weight: 44.955912
Melting Point: 1814 K
Boiling Point: 3109 K
Density: 2.99 g/cm3
Phase at Room Temperature: Solid
Element Classification: Metal
