Scandium
⚾ In Your World
Scandium is a "super-additive" for metals. Adding just a small amount of scandium to aluminum creates an incredibly strong and lightweight alloy. This high-performance material is used in specialized aerospace components and high-end sports equipment like baseball bats, bicycle frames, and lacrosse sticks. It's also used in some high-intensity stadium lights.
📖 The Discovery Story
Scandium was predicted by Dmitri Mendeleev, who called it "eka-boron," before it was ever found. In 1879, Swedish chemist Lars Fredrik Nilson discovered the element while analyzing the minerals euxenite and gadolinite. He named it "scandium" after Scandinavia, his homeland. It was another hidden gem in the complex ores that also yielded many other rare earth elements.
📊 Properties at a Glance
| Phase at STP | Solid |
| Melting Point | 1541 °C / 2806 °F |
| Boiling Point | 2836 °C / 5137 °F |
| Electron Configuration | [Ar] 3d¹4s² |
| Abundance in Earth's Crust | 0.0022% |
⚠️ Safety & Handling
Pure scandium metal is considered non-toxic, and there are no significant safety concerns for handling it in its solid form. However, as with many metals, inhaling its dust or fumes over a prolonged period should be avoided.