Scandium

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Atomic symbol: Sc

Atomic number: 21

Atomic weight: 44.9559

Atomic volume: 15.0 cm3/mol

Density: 3.0 g/cm3

Period Number: 4

Group number: 3

Group name: Trans. Met.

Element classification: Metal

States

Phase at room temperature: Solid

Melting Point: 1812.2 K

Boiling point: 3021 K

Heat of fusion: 14.10 kJ/mol

Heat of vaporization: 314.20 kJ/mol

Energies

Ionization Energy: 6.561 eV

1st ionization energy: 631 kJ/mole

2nd ionization energy: 1235 kJ/mole

3rd ionization energy: 2389 kJ/mole

Electronegativity: 1.36

Electron affinity: 18.1 kJ/mole

Specific heat: 0.6 J/gK

Heat atomization: 378 kJ/mole atoms

Oxidation & Electrons

Shells: 2,8,9,2

Electron Shell Configuration: [Ar] 3d1 4s2

Minimum oxidation number: 0

Maximum oxidation number: 3

Minimum common oxidation number: 0

Maximum common oxidation no: 3

Appearance & Characteristics

Structure:: hcp: hexagonal close pkd

Color: silvery-white

Hardness: mohs

Toxicity: ?

Characteristics: soft

Uses: no significant uses

Reactions

Reaction with air: vigorous, =>Sc₂O₃

Reaction with 6M HCl: mild, =>H₂, ScCl₃

Reaction with 15M HNO3: mild, =>Sc(NO₃)₃

Reaction with 6M NaOH: ?

Other Forms

Number of isotopes: 1

Oxide(s): Sc₂O₃

Hydride(s): ScH₂ScH₃

Chloride(s): ScCl₃

Radius

Atomic Radius: 162 pm

Ionic radius (1- ion): pm

Ionic radius (1+ ion): pm

Ionic radius (2- ion): pm

Ionic radius (2+ ion): pm

Ionic radius (3+ ion): 88.5 pm

Conductivity

Thermal conductivity: 15.8 J/m-sec-deg

Electrical conductivity: 19.2 1/mohm-cm

Polarizability: 17.8 A^3

Abundance

Source: U extractn by-product

Relative abundance solar system: 1.534 log

Abundance earth's crust: 1.3 log

Estimated crustal abundance: 2.2×10¹ milligrams per kilogram

Estimated oceanic abundance: 6×10^-7 milligrams per liter

History

(L. Scandia: Scandinavia) On the basis of the Periodic System, Mendeleev predicted the existence of ekaboron, which would have an atomic weight between 40 of calcium and 48 of titanium.

The element was discovered by Nilson in 1878 in the minerals euxenite and gadolinite, which had not yet been found anywhere except in Scandinavia. By processing 10 kg of euxenite and other residues of rare-earth minerals, Nilson was able to prepare about 2g of highly pure scandium oxide. Later scientists pointed out that Nilson's scandium was identical with Mendeleev's ekaboron.

Sources

Scandium is apparently much more abundant (the 23^rd most) in the sun and certain stars than on earth (the 50^th most abundant). It is widely distributed on earth, occurring in very minute quantities in over 800 mineral species. The blue color of beryl (aquamarine variety) is said to be due to scandium. It occurs as a principal component in the rare mineral thortveitite, found in Scandinavia and Malagasy. It is also found in the residues remaining after the extraction of tungsten from Zinnwald wolframite, and in wiikite and bazzite.

Most scandium is presently being recovered from thortveitite or is extracted as a by-product from uranium mill tailings. Metallic scandium was first prepared in 1937 by Fischer, Brunger, and Grienelaus who electrolyzed a eutectic melt of potassium, lithium, and scandium chlorides at 700 to 800⁰C. Tungsten wire and a pool of molten zinc served as the electrodes in a graphite crucible. Pure scandium is now produced by reducing scandium fluoride with calcium metal.

The production of the first pound of 99% pure scandium metal was announced in 1960.

Properties

Scandium is a silver-white metal which develops a slightly yellowish or pinkish cast upon exposure to air. A relatively soft element, scandium resembles yttrium and the rare-earth metals more than it resembles aluminum or titanium.

It is a very light metal and has a much higher melting point than aluminum, making it of interest to designers of spacecraft. Scandium is not attacked by a 1:1 mixture of HNO₃ and 48% HF.

Uses

About 20 kg of scandium (as Sc₂O₃) are used yearly in the U.S. to produce high-intensity lights. The radioactive isotope ⁴⁶Sc is used as a tracing agent in refinery crackers for crude oil, etc.

Scandium iodide added to mercury vapor lamps produces a highly efficient light source resembling sunlight, which is important for indoor or night-time color TV.

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