Yttrium

Atomic Number: 39
Symbol: Y
Atomic Mass: 88.91 u
Number of Neutrons: 50
Melting Point: 1526°C
Boiling Point: 3338°C
Electrons per shell: 2.8.18.9.2
Electron configuration: [Kr] 4d¹ 5s²

---

Yttrium is the 39th element in the periodic table and it is part of the transition metals. It is a silvery-metallic metal with similar properties to lanthanides. Yttrium is classified as a "rare-earth element". It is found in rare minerals (sometimes in uranium ores) and is even found in lunar rocks. Yttrium is mostly used for making alloys and increases the strength of aluminium and magnesium alloys. Yttrium-90 (which is said to be able to cure cancer) is decaded strontium-90. Which after a while decays into a stable version of zirconium. The person that discovered yttrium is Johan Gadolin, a Finnish chemist. This element was discovered in 1794 in a mineral called gadolinite from Ytterby, Sweden, which is where the name yttrium comes from.

Previous Element  Next Element