Yttrium
📺 In Your World
Yttrium was once a key ingredient in making the color red on old CRT television screens. Its compounds were used as red phosphors that glowed when hit by an electron beam. Today, yttrium is used to make powerful YAG (yttrium-aluminum-garnet) lasers for cutting metal and in surgical procedures. It's also added to alloys to increase their strength.
📖 The Discovery Story
Yttrium was discovered in 1794 by Finnish chemist Johan Gadolin. He analyzed a black mineral found in a quarry in the Swedish village of Ytterby. The village of Ytterby is famous in chemistry, as it is the source of minerals from which four elements were discovered: Yttrium (Y), Ytterbium (Yb), Terbium (Tb), and Erbium (Er), all named after the village.
📊 Properties at a Glance
| Phase at STP | Solid |
| Melting Point | 1526 °C / 2779 °F |
| Boiling Point | 3336 °C / 6037 °F |
| Electron Configuration | [Kr] 4d¹5s² |
| Abundance in Earth's Crust | 0.0033% |
⚠️ Safety & Handling
Yttrium and its compounds are considered to have low toxicity. However, like many metals, fine yttrium dust is a fire hazard and can ignite spontaneously in air. It should be handled with care in industrial settings.