A Visual Encyclopedia of the Periodic Table

54

Transition Metals

Forms

Greasy texture

A soft and lightweight metal, scandium is

similar to aluminium. It is spread so thinly

in Earth’s rocks that it is very difficult to collect

a large amount of this element. Scandium is only

used for specialist applications. Its main ores are

the minerals gadolinite and euxenite, which

also contain small amounts of many other rare

metals, such as cerium and yttrium. Scandium

mixed with aluminium makes a strong alloy,

which is used in lightweight equipment for

sports, such as lacrosse, and to make high-

speed jets, such as the MiG-29.

Uses

Scandium

The silver y colour

of this metal turns

yellow in the air.

This lightweight alloy

handle does not bend.

These cr ystals

contain only tiny

amounts of scandium.

The scandium iodide

gas inside the tube glows

with a bright bluish light.

Some high-speed jets

have a fuselage made

of scandium alloys.

G

ad

ol

in

ite

Eu

xe

nit

e

Metal halide lamp

MiG-29 aircraft

Lacrosse stick

21 21 24

State: Solid

Discovery: 1879

Sc

21

Laboratory sample

of pure scandium

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