21
Sc
44.9559
Scandium
Transition Metal
Group 3
Period 4
Block d
Scandium is a chemical element of the periodic table with chemical symbol Sc and atomic number 21 with an atomic weight of 44.9559 u and is classed as transition metal and is part of group 3 (scandium group). Scandium is solid at room temperature.
Scandium in the periodic table
| Symbol | Sc |
| Atomic number | 21 |
| Group | 3 (Scandium group) |
| Period | 4 |
| Block | d |
| Classification | Transition Metal |
| Appearance | Silvery white |
| Color | Silver |
| Number of protons | 21 p+ |
| Number of neutrons | 24 n0 |
| Number of electrons | 21 e- |
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaScandium is a chemical element with symbol Sc and atomic number 21. A silvery-white metallic d-block element, it has historically been sometimes classified as a rare earth element, together with yttrium and the lanthanoids. It was discovered in 1879 by spectral analysis of the minerals euxenite and gadolinite from Scandinavia.
Physical properties
| Phase at STP | Solid |
| Density | 2.985 g/cm3 |
| Atomic weight | 44.9559 u |
Thermal properties
| Melting point | 1814 K 1540.85 °C 2805.53 °F |
| Boiling point | 3109 K 2835.85 °C 5136.53 °F |
| Heat of vaporization | 304.8 kJ/mol |
Atomic properties
| Electronegativity (Pauling Scale) | 1.36 |
| Electron affinity | 18 kJ/mol |
| Oxidation states | 0, +1, +2, +3 (an amphoteric oxide) |
| Ionization energies |
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Electron configuration for scandium
Electron configuration Shorthand configuration | [Ar] 3d1 4s2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full configuration | 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d1 4s2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Electron configuration chart |
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| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 9, 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outer shell electrons | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Valence electrons (incl. d) | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Valency electrons | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bohr model | Figure: Shell diagram of Scandium (Sc) atom. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Orbital Diagram |
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The history of Scandium
| Prediction | Dmitrij Mendelejev (1871) |
| Discovery and first isolation | Lars Fredrik Nilson (1879) |
Discovery of scandium Dmitri Mendeleev, who is referred to as the father of the periodic table, predicted the existence of an element ekaboron, with an atomic mass between 40 and 48 in 1869. Lars Fredrik Nilson and his team detected this element in the minerals euxenite and gadolinite in 1879. Nilson prepared 2 grams of scandium oxide of high purity. He named the element scandium, from the Latin Scandia meaning "Scandinavia". Nilson was apparently unaware of Mendeleev's prediction, but Per Teodor Cleve recognized the correspondence and notified Mendeleev. Metallic scandium was produced for the first time in 1937 by electrolysis of a eutectic mixture of potassium, lithium, and scandium chlorides, at 700–800 °C. | |
| Original word | Scandia |
| Language of origin | Latin |
| Name source | Place |
| Meaning | “Scandinavia” |
| Country | Sweden |
Naming The name derives from the Latin word 'Scandia', meaning Scandinavia, because the element occurs in rare minerals found there. | |