Scandium

What is scandium?
Scandium is the 21st element in the periodic table of elements. It was discovered by Lars Nilson of Sweden in 1878. It's name actually ties in with how it was discovered, unlike some other elements: Scandium was named after Scandinavia. Nilson was attempting to isolate the element ytterbium from the minerals euxenite and gadolinite when he discovered scandium. These minerals, being found primarily in the Scandinavia region, gave scandium it's long-standing name.

Scandium has a very interesting look about it. As seen above, in metallic form it is a silvery-white metal, but when scandium is exposed to air, it tints the outer skeleton of the metal yellowish or pinkish, as seen in the picture to the left. Scandium is also a very light, airy, and relatively soft metal. Being so sensitive, it reacts rapidly to many acids.

What is scandium used for?
Scandium is a very useful element. Without scandium, there would be no such thing as the aquamarine, as the blue color of the gem is attributed to the presence of the scandium. Scandium is also found in the minerals thortveitite, euxenite and gadolinite.

 Scandium is also 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 is used as a tracer in refinery crackers for crude oil.