
Scandium element (Sc) is in group 3 and period 4 of a periodic table. Scandium is in the d-block and it is classified as a transition element on the periodic table.
There is a lot more information related to scandium which is mentioned in the Information Table given below.
So let’s dive right into it!
Table of contents
- Scandium element (Information Table)
- Scandium element in Periodic table
- Facts about Scandium
- Properties of Scandium
- Uses of Scandium
Scandium Element (Information Table)
The important data related to scandium element is given in the table below.
Appearance of scandium | Silvery white |
Atomic number of scandium | 21 |
Symbol of scandium | Sc |
Atomic mass of scandium | 44.956 u |
Protons, Neutrons & Electrons in scandium | Protons: 21, Neutrons: 24, Electrons: 21 |
State of scandium (at STP) | Solid |
Group number of scandium in periodic table | 3 |
Period number of scandium in periodic table | 4 |
Block of scandium in periodic table | p-block |
Category of scandium | Transition metal |
Bohr model or Electrons per shell or Electrons arrangement in scandium | 2, 8, 9, 2 |
Electron configuration of scandium | [Ar] 3d1 4s2 |
Orbital diagram of scandium | ![]() |
Valence electrons in scandium | 2 |
Electronegativity of scandium (on pauling scale) | 1.36 |
Atomic radius of scandium (van der Waals radius) | 211 picometers |
Density of scandium | 2.985 g/cm3 |
1st ionization energy of scandium | 6.56 eV |
Main isotope of scandium | 45Sc |
Melting point of scandium | 1814 K or 1541 °C or 2806 °F |
Boiling point of scandium | 3109 K or 2836 °C or 5136 °F |
Crystal structure of scandium | Hexagonal closed packing |
Discovery of scandium | By Lars Frederik Nilson in 1879 |
Also see: Interactive Periodic Table (It has rotating bohr models as well as many other details of all the 118 elements in a single periodic table).
Scandium element in Periodic table
The Scandium element (Sc) has the atomic number 21 and is located in group 3 and period 4. Scandium is a metal and it is classified as a transition element.
H | He | ||||||||||||||||
Li | Be | B | C | N | O | F | Ne | ||||||||||
Na | Mg | Al | Si | P | S | Cl | Ar | ||||||||||
K | Ca | Sc | Ti | V | Cr | Mn | Fe | Co | Ni | Cu | Zn | Ga | Ge | As | Se | Br | Kr |
Rb | Sr | Y | Zr | Nb | Mo | Tc | Ru | Rh | Pd | Ag | Cd | In | Sn | Sb | Te | I | Xe |
Cs | Ba | La* | Hf | Ta | W | Re | Os | Ir | Pt | Au | Hg | Tl | Pb | Bi | Po | At | Rn |
Fr | Ra | Ac** | Rf | Db | Sg | Bh | Hs | Mt | Ds | Rg | Cn | Nh | Fl | Mc | Lv | Ts | Og |
*Ce | Pr | Nd | Pm | Sm | Eu | Gd | Tb | Dy | Ho | Er | Tm | Yb | Lu | ||||
**Th | Pa | U | Np | Pu | Am | Cm | Bk | Cf | Es | Fm | Md | No | Lr |
Facts about Scandium
Here are a few interesting facts about scandium element.
- Scandium is classified as a transition metal, but it is also a rare earth metal as it is evenly spread on the earth and it is difficult to find the scandium ores all at one place on the earth.
- The Scandium element was predicted by Mendeleev in 1869 and he named the element as eka-boron.
- Scandium is a light metal (like aluminum) but it has a higher melting point than aluminum. The melting point of scandium is 660 °C, while that of aluminum is 1541 °C.
- The abundance of scandium in the earth’s crust is around 18 to 25 ppm.
- Scandium is the 35th most abundant element in the earth’s crust.
- The amount of scandium is more on the moon as well as on the sun, as compared to the amount on the earth.
Properties of scandium
Here is a list of some physical properties and chemical properties of scandium.
Physical properties of scandium
- Scandium is a moderately soft metal having a silvery white appearance.
- The atomic radius of the scandium atom is 211 picometers.
- The density of scandium is 2.985 g/cm3, which is approximately 3 times that of water.
Chemical properties of scandium
- When scandium is kept open in air, it reacts with oxygen and forms Sc2O3.
- Scandium has many isotopes, but the most stable isotope is 45Sc.
- Scandium can easily form compounds like halides, oxides and hydroxides.
- Scandium can dissolve slowly in most of the dilute acids.
Uses of scandium
Here are some uses of the scandium element.
- Scandium is mainly used in aluminum-scandium alloys that are used in components of aerospace industries.
- Aluminum-scandium alloys are also used in sports equipment like baseball bats, bicycle frames, tent poles, etc.
- 46Sc is a radioactive isotope of scandium which is used as a tracing agent in oil refineries.
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