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21Sc44.956
Transition Metald-block

Scandium

Element 21 on the periodic table, symbol Sc, group 3, period 4.

Scandium 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.

Appearance: silvery white

Properties

Atomic Number
21
Atomic Mass
44.9559 u
Group
3
Period
4
Block
d-block
Category
Transition Metal
State at 25 °C
Solid
Melting Point
1,814 K · 1,540.9 °C
Boiling Point
3,109 K · 2,835.9 °C
Density
2.985 g/cm³
Atomic Radius
160 pm
Electronegativity
1.36
Oxidation States
+3
Abundance in Crust
22 mg/kg
Discovered
1879
Discovered By
Lars Fredrik Nilson

Electron Configuration

[Ar] 3d1 4s2

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d1

Ionisation Energies (kJ/mol)

  1. 1. 633.1
  2. 2. 1,235
  3. 3. 2,388.6
  4. 4. 7,090.6
  5. 5. 8,843
  6. 6. 10,679
  7. 7. 13,310
  8. 8. 15,250

Elements near Scandium

Elements in the same group share the number of outer electrons and behave in similar ways. Elements in the same period share a shell, so they change steadily from left to right.

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