Y
Yttrium is a transition metal used in LEDs, lasers, and superconductors.
Physical Properties
| Atomic Mass | 88.906 u |
| Density | 4.469 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 1799.0 K |
| Boiling Point | 3609.0 K |
| Appearance | Silvery-white metallic |
| State at Room Temp | Solid |
Chemical Properties
| Electronegativity | 1.22 (Pauling) |
| 1st Ionization Energy | 600.0 kJ/mol |
| Electron Affinity | 29.6 kJ/mol |
| Oxidation States | +1, +2, +3 |
Atomic Properties
| Electron Configuration | [Kr] 4d1 5s2 |
| Atomic Radius | 180.0 pm |
| Covalent Radius | 190.0 pm |
| Van der Waals Radius | 219.0 pm |
Discovery
| Discovered By | Johan Gadolin |
| Discovery Year | 1794 |
| Location | Ytterby, Sweden |
| Named After | Ytterby, a village in Sweden |
About Yttrium
Yttrium is a silvery-white, ductile transition metal almost always found with lanthanides in rare earth minerals. It was the first of several elements found near the Swedish village of Ytterby.
Uses & Applications
Red phosphors for displays and LEDs, YAG lasers, high-temperature superconductors, and spark plugs.
Fun Fact
Four elements are named after the tiny Swedish village of Ytterby: yttrium, ytterbium, terbium, and erbium.
Isotopes
| Mass Number | Abundance | Half-Life | Stable |
| 89 | 1.0% | - | Yes |
Electron Configuration
[Kr] 4d1 5s2