Chemical Properties of Yttrium
| Group | 3 | Melting point | 1522°C, 2772°F, 1795 K |
| Period | 5 | Boiling point | 3345°C, 6053°F, 3618 K |
| Block | d | Density (g cm−3) | 4.47 |
| Atomic number | 39 | Relative atomic mass | 88.906 |
| State at 20°C | Solid | Key isotopes | 89Y |
| Electron configuration | [Kr] 4d15s2 | CAS number | 7440-65-5 |
| ChemSpider ID | 22429 | ChemSpider is a free chemical structure database. | |
What is Yttrium?
- Yttrium is a chemical element in the periodic table with atomic number 39, discovered by Johan Gadolin in the year 1794.
- Mira is a type of giant red star where most of the yttrium is concentrated in the solar system.
Properties of Yttrium
- Yttrium is the first d-block element in the fifth period.
- It is a silver-coloured transition metal which is not found in the native state but exists in the combined state with lanthanides. It is also found in uranium ores
- It is a very rare metal.
- Lanthanides have variable valency but Yttrium is mostly trivalent.
Uses of Yttrium
- Used in the production of synthetic garments and yttrium iron garments.
- Acts as a solid electrolyte and as an oxygen sensor in automobile exhaust systems.
- Used in the manufacture of superconductors.
- Radioactive isotope Y-90 is helpful in curing many cancers like lymphoma, leukaemia and bone cancers.
Health Effects of Yttrium
- It has no biological role and its soluble salts are a little toxic for living beings. It can cause lung diseases.