Scandium
Atomic Number: 21
Symbol: Sc
Atomic Weight: 44.95591
Discovery: Lars Nilson 1878 (Sweden)
Electron Configuration: [Ar] 4s2 3d1
Word Origin: Latin Scandia: Scandinavia
Isotopes: Eleven isotopes of scandium are recognized.
Properties: Scandium has a melting point of 1541 °C, boiling point of 2830 °C, specific gravity of 2.989 (25 °C), and valence of 3. It is a silvery-white metal which develops a yellowish or pinkish cast when exposed to air. Scandium is a very light, relatively soft metal. Scandium reacts rapidly with many acids. The blue color of aquamarine is attributed to the presence of scandium.
Uses: Scandium is used to make high intensity lamps. Scandium iodide is added to mercury vapor lamps to produce a light source with a color resembling sunlight. The radioactive isotope Sc-46 is used as a tracer in refinery crackers for crude oil.
Element Classification: Transition Metal
Density (g/cc): 2.99
Melting Point (K): 1814
Boiling Point (K): 3104
Appearance: somewhat soft, silvery-white metal
Atomic Radius (pm): 162
Atomic Volume (cc/mol): 15.0
Covalent Radius (pm): 144
Ionic Radius: 72.3 (+3e)
Specific Heat (@20°C J/g mol): 0.556
Fusion Heat (kJ/mol): 15.8
Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol): 332.7
Pauling Negativity Number: 1.36
First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol): 630.8
Oxidation States: 3
Lattice Structure: Hexagonal
Lattice Constant (Å): 3.310
Lattice C/A Ratio: 1.594
References: Los Alamos National Laboratory (2001), Crescent Chemical Company (2001), Lange's Handbook of Chemistry (1952), CRC Handbook of Chemistry & Physics (18th Ed.)
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