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What is Yttrium?
Yttrium is a chemical element with symbol Y and atomic number 39. It is a silvery-white metal that is solid at room temperature and has a hexagonal crystal structure. Yttrium is the 29th most abundant element in the Earth’s crust and is found in many minerals, including xenotime, yttrotantalite, and gadolinite. Yttrium is used as a dopant in some solid-state electronics and in the production of yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) lasers.
In 1787, Carl Axel Arrhenius found a heavy black mineral in a mine near Ytterby in Sweden and named it ytterbite. In 1828, Johan Gadolin discovered a new mineral near Ytterby and named it yttria. Yttrium metal was first isolated in 1843 by Friedrich Wöhler.
Yttrium Element
The yttrium element is a metallic chemical element with the symbol Y and atomic number 39. It is a soft, silver-white metal that is highly corrosion-resistant. Yttrium found in nature as a component of rare earth minerals and is usually alloyed with other metals to make it stronger. Yttrium used in a variety of applications, including glassmaking, ceramics, and also phosphors. It also used in medical imaging and as a drug for treating cancer.
Chemical Properties of Yttrium
The chemical properties of yttrium are that it is a reactive metal that is soluble in acids. It is a silvery-white metal that stable in air. Has a moderate melting point and a high boiling point. However it is a good conductor of heat and electricity.
Yttrium Electron Configuration
The electron configuration of yttrium is [Xe] 4f14 5d2 6s2.
Sources of Yttrium
The main sources of yttrium are the minerals bastnäsite and also monazite.
Uses of Yttrium
Some of the uses of yttrium include:
- Yttrium used as a doping agent in some types of lasers.
- It used as a colorant in some types of glass.
- Yttrium used in some types of ceramics.
- It used in some types of alloys.
Properties of Yttrium
- Atomic number: 39
- Atomic weight: 88.905
- Melting point: 1539 °C
- Boiling point: 2900 °C
- Density: 4.47 g/cm3
