What Is Cool Facts About Scandium

The cool facts about scandium are part of the events that usually occur in the interesting world of chemistry, but to clearly understand these facts, one must basically know scandium, what it is, what properties it has, and what it is used for.

What is scandium?

When we talk about scandium, we refer to the element number 21 of the periodic table, it is classified in group 3 and is considered one of the rare earths, its chemical symbol is Sc, and is part of the transition metals, also by the characteristics it has, it is also classified in the series of the known lanthanides.

Properties of scandium

To talk about the cool facts about scandium it is necessary to see the properties and characteristics that this chemical element has.

It has high boiling and melting points of 2,836 and 1,539 degrees Celsius respectively, which means that it is an element that withstands high temperatures.

Due to the density of scandium, it is a light element compared to aluminum, which is 3.0 grams per milliliter.

The chemical reactivity of scandium increases according to the atomic size, and presents good reaction against strong acids, against water, and with halogens, is presented in solid state when it is at room temperature, as for the appearance is pale in color, which can be white or silver, if in contact with air becomes a light pink, or yellowish, is smooth and shows a soft that becomes hard and very resistant when it is alloyed with other elements

Scandium is a stable material, and resists high temperatures, however these decompose it, and when in contact with air the material tends to oxidize.

Cool facts about scandium   

Scandium is a very scarce chemical element in nature, for this reason it is among the rare earths, and is only found in very few types of mineral mines, as cool facts about scandium, it is found inside many homes, in energy saving lamps, fluorescent lamps, and color televisions.

Another of the cool facts where scandium is involved is the danger it represents in the workplace, since the gases and humidity of scandium can be inhaled by workers through the air present in these places, and this can result in pulmonary embolisms and liver problems if it accumulates in the body of those who work in these areas.

There are many ways in which scandium is released into the environment, such as the disposal of household equipment, waste from oil companies, and in this way this chemical accumulates in water and soil, generating concentrations of it in animals and humans, causing severe damage to health, mainly in the reproductive system and the nervous system.

Among the cool facts about scandium is the origin of the name of this element, and the reason is that Scandinavia is where the largest quantities of this chemical element have been found.

Continuing with the cool facts about this chemical element, it was discovered in 1879 by Lars Fredrick Nilson, analyzing the spectra of gadolinite and euxenite, it is present in more than 800 minerals, in the residues of wolframite extraction, and it has been found in countries such as China, Denmark, Kazakhstan, Norway, Madagascar, Russia, and Sweden.

It is found in large quantities in space, on the Moon, the Sun, and in large stars.

Scandium is considered among the elements that make up the earth crust in 31 abundance.

Among other cool facts is the economic factor, scandium has very high costs, a kilogram of the oxide of this element can cost thousands of dollars, while a kilogram of scandium in pure state can reach prices of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Uses of scandium

Scandium alloyed with aluminum is used in aircraft construction, oxides and compounds of this element are given catalytic functions for the conversion of acetic acid into acetone, of dicarboxylic acids into ketones, in the manufacture of propanol.

 Scandium sulfate solution is used to optimize seed germination processes of a variety of vegetables.

It is also used in the alkaline battery industry to increase the life of alkaline batteries, in the manufacture of laser lights, high intensity lights, to improve the efficiency of artificial light in outdoor stadium lamps, in PC monitors, TV screens, and in the oil industry as a tracer in cracking, in the ceramics, phosphor, and glass industries.

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