Scandium

Scandium (Sc)

Scandium is the 21st element in the periodic table and has a symbol of Sc and atomic number of 21. It has an atomic weight of 44.95591 and a mass number of 45. Scandium has twenty-one protons and twenty-four neutrons in its nucleus, and twenty-one electrons in four shells. It is located in group three, period four and block d of the periodic table. Rare soft silvery metallic element belonging to group 3 of the periodic table. There are ten isotopes, nine of which are radioactive and have short half-lives. Predicted in 1869 by Mendeleev, isolated by Nilson in 1879.
Atomic Number21
Atomic Weight44.955908
Mass Number45
Group3
Period4
Blockd
Protons21 p+
Neutrons24 n0
Electrons21 e-
Animated Bohr Model of Sc (Scandium)

Physical Properties

Atomic Radius
160 pm
Molar Volume
Covalent Radius
148 pm
Metallic Radius
144 pm
Ionic Radius
74.5 pm
Crystal Radius
88.5 pm
Van der Waals Radius
215 pm
Density
2.99 g/cm³
Atomic Radii of the Elements: Scandium0102030405060708090100110120130140150160170180190200210220pmAtomic RadiusCovalent RadiusMetallic RadiusVan der Waals Radius

Chemical Properties

Energy
Proton Affinity
914 kJ/mol
Electron Affinity
Ionization Energy
6.56149 eV/particle
Ionization Energies of Sc (Scandium)
Heat of Vaporization
332.7 kJ/mol
Heat of Fusion
15.8 kJ/mol
Heat of Formation
377.8 kJ/mol
Electrons
Electron Shells2, 8, 9, 2
Bohr Model: Sc (Scandium)
Valence Electrons2
Lewis Structure: Sc (Scandium)
Electron Configuration[Ar] 3d1 4s2
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d1 4s2
Enhanced Bohr Model of Sc (Scandium)
Orbital Diagram of Sc (Scandium)
Oxidation States0, 1, 2, 3
Electronegativity
1.36
Electrophilicity Index
0.8934589851890408 eV/particle
States of Matter
PhaseSolid
Gas Phase
Boiling Point
3,109.15 K
Melting Point
1,814.15 K
Critical Pressure
Critical Temperature
Triple Point
Visual

Scandium is a Silver. Sc has a CPK of #ff1493, Jmol of #e6e6e6, and MOLCAS GV of #e6e6e6. The Appearance of Element 21 is silvery white.

Color
Silver
Appearancesilvery white
Refractive Index
Thermodynamic Properties
Thermal Conductivity
15.8 W/(m K)
Thermal Expansion
0.0000102 1/K
Molar Heat Capacity
25.52 J/(mol K)
Specific Heat Capacity
0.568 J/(g⋅K)
Heat Capacity Ratio (Adiabatic Index)
Electrical Properties
TypeConductor
Electrical Conductivity
1.8 MS/m
Electrical Resistivity
0.00000055 m Ω
Superconducting Point
0.05 K
Magnetism
Typeparamagnetic
Magnetic Susceptibility (Mass)
0.000000088 m³/Kg
Magnetic Susceptibility (Molar)
0.000000003956 m³/mol
Magnetic Susceptibility (Volume)
0.0002627
Magnetic Ordering
Curie Point
Neel Point
Structure

The Crystal Structure of Scandium is HEX. The lattice constant of Sc is 3.31 Å. The lattice angles of Element 21 are π/2, π/2, 2 π/3.

Crystal StructureSimple Hexagonal (HEX)
Lattice Constant
3.31 Å
Lattice Anglesπ/2, π/2, 2 π/3
Mechanical Properties

Scandium has a Brinell of 750 MPa. The Bulk Modulus of Sc is 57 GPa. The Shear Modulus of Element 21 is 29 GPa. The Young Modulus of Scandium (Sc) is 74 GPa. The Poisson Ratio of Scandium is 0.28.

Hardness
Bulk Modulus
57 GPa
Shear Modulus
29 GPa
Young's Modulus
74 GPa
Poisson Ratio
0.28
Speed of Sound
Classification

The CAS Group of Scandium is IIIA. The IUPAC Group of Sc is IIIB. The Glawe Number of Element 21 is 48. The Mendeleev Number of Scandium (Sc) is 11. The Pettifor Number of Scandium is 20. The Geochemical Class of Sc is first series transition metal. The Goldschmidt Class of Element 21 is litophile.

CategoryTransition metals, Transition metals
CAS GroupIIIA
IUPAC GroupIIIB
Glawe Number48
Mendeleev Number11
Pettifor Number20
Geochemical Classfirst series transition metal
Goldschmidt Classlitophile

Other

The Gas Basicity of Scandium is 892 kJ/mol. The Dipole Polarizability of Sc is 97 plus or minus 10 a₀. Element 21 has a C6 Dispersion Coefficient (CD) of 1383 a₀, and C6 Dispersion Coefficient (GB) of 1570 a₀. The Allotropes of Scandium (Sc) is . The Neutron Cross Section of Scandium is 27.2. The Neutron Mass Absorption of Sc is 0.025. The Quantum Numbers of Element 21 is 2D3/2. The Space Group of Scandium (Sc) is 194 (P63/mmc).

Gas Basicity
892 kJ/mol
Dipole Polarizability
97 ± 10 a₀
C6 Dispersion Coefficient
1,383 a₀
Allotropes
Neutron Cross Section
27.2
Neutron Mass Absorption
0.025
Quantum Numbers2D3/2
Space Group194 (P63/mmc)

Isotopes of Scandium

Stable Isotopes1
Unstable Isotopes28
Natural Isotopes1

35Sc

Mass Number35
Neutron Number14
Relative Atomic Mass
35.029093 ± 0.000429 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
Spin7/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
p (proton emission)

36Sc

Mass Number36
Neutron Number15
Relative Atomic Mass
36.017338 ± 0.000322 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
Spin
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year
Parity

Decay ModeIntensity
p (proton emission)

37Sc

Mass Number37
Neutron Number16
Relative Atomic Mass
37.004058 ± 0.000322 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
Spin7/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
p (proton emission)

38Sc

Mass Number38
Neutron Number17
Relative Atomic Mass
37.995438 ± 0.000215 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
Spin2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
p (proton emission)

39Sc

Mass Number39
Neutron Number18
Relative Atomic Mass
38.984784953 ± 0.000025765 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
Spin7/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1988
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
p (proton emission)100%

40Sc

Mass Number40
Neutron Number19
Relative Atomic Mass
39.977967275 ± 0.000003036 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
182.3 ± 0.7 ms
Spin4
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1955
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)100%
β+ p (β+-delayed proton emission)0.44%
β+α (β+-delayed α emission)0.017%

41Sc

Mass Number41
Neutron Number20
Relative Atomic Mass
40.969251163 ± 0.000000083 Da
G-Factor
1.5509428571429 ± 0.0004
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
596.3 ± 1.7 ms
Spin7/2
Quadrupole Moment
-0.145 ± 0.003
Discovery Year1941
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)100%

42Sc

Mass Number42
Neutron Number21
Relative Atomic Mass
41.965516686 ± 0.000000165 Da
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
680.72 ± 0.26 ms
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1955
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)100%

43Sc

Mass Number43
Neutron Number22
Relative Atomic Mass
42.961150425 ± 0.000001999 Da
G-Factor
1.2931428571429 ± 0.0028571428571429
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
3.891 ± 0.012 h
Spin7/2
Quadrupole Moment
-0.27 ± 0.05
Discovery Year1935
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)100%

44Sc

Mass Number44
Neutron Number23
Relative Atomic Mass
43.959402818 ± 0.000001884 Da
G-Factor
1.249 ± 0.0025
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
4.0421 ± 0.0025 h
Spin2
Quadrupole Moment
0.1 ± 0.05
Discovery Year1937
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β+ (β+ decay; β+ = ϵ + e+)100%

45Sc

Mass Number45
Neutron Number24
Relative Atomic Mass
44.955907051 ± 0.000000712 Da
G-Factor
1.3582857142857 ± 0.000022857142857143
Abundance
100
RadioactivityStable
Half LifeNot Radioactive ☢️
Spin7/2
Quadrupole Moment
-0.22 ± 0.002
Discovery Year1923
Parity-

46Sc

Mass Number46
Neutron Number25
Relative Atomic Mass
45.955167034 ± 0.00000072 Da
G-Factor
0.76 ± 0.002
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
83.757 ± 0.014 d
Spin4
Quadrupole Moment
0.119 ± 0.006
Discovery Year1936
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%

47Sc

Mass Number47
Neutron Number26
Relative Atomic Mass
46.952402444 ± 0.000002072 Da
G-Factor
1.5257142857143 ± 0.0057142857142857
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
3.3492 ± 0.0006 d
Spin7/2
Quadrupole Moment
-0.22 ± 0.03
Discovery Year1945
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%

48Sc

Mass Number48
Neutron Number27
Relative Atomic Mass
47.952222903 ± 0.000005313 Da
G-Factor
0.62283333333333 ± 0.002
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
43.67 ± 0.09 h
Spin6
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1937
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%

49Sc

Mass Number49
Neutron Number28
Relative Atomic Mass
48.950013159 ± 0.000002434 Da
G-Factor
1.6028571428571 ± 0.0085714285714286
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
57.18 ± 0.13 m
Spin7/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1940
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%

50Sc

Mass Number50
Neutron Number29
Relative Atomic Mass
49.952187437 ± 0.0000027 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
102.5 ± 0.5 s
Spin5
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1959
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%

51Sc

Mass Number51
Neutron Number30
Relative Atomic Mass
50.953568838 ± 0.0000027 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
12.4 ± 0.1 s
Spin7/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1966
Parity

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%
β n (β-delayed neutron emission)

52Sc

Mass Number52
Neutron Number31
Relative Atomic Mass
51.95649617 ± 0.0000033 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
8.2 ± 0.2 s
Spin3
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1980
Parity

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%
β n (β-delayed neutron emission)

53Sc

Mass Number53
Neutron Number32
Relative Atomic Mass
52.958379173 ± 0.000019 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
2.4 ± 0.6 s
Spin7/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1980
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%
β n (β-delayed neutron emission)

54Sc

Mass Number54
Neutron Number33
Relative Atomic Mass
53.963029359 ± 0.000015 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
526 ± 15 ms
Spin3
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1990
Parity

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%
β n (β-delayed neutron emission)16%

55Sc

Mass Number55
Neutron Number34
Relative Atomic Mass
54.966889637 ± 0.000067 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
96 ± 2 ms
Spin7/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1990
Parity

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%
β n (β-delayed neutron emission)17%
2n (2-neutron emission)

56Sc

Mass Number56
Neutron Number35
Relative Atomic Mass
55.972607611 ± 0.000278761 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
26 ± 6 ms
Spin1
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1997
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%
β n (β-delayed neutron emission)
2n (2-neutron emission)

57Sc

Mass Number57
Neutron Number36
Relative Atomic Mass
56.977048 ± 0.000193 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
22 ± 2 ms
Spin7/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1997
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%
β n (β-delayed neutron emission)
2n (2-neutron emission)

58Sc

Mass Number58
Neutron Number37
Relative Atomic Mass
57.983382 ± 0.000204 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
12 ± 5 ms
Spin3
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1997
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%
β n (β-delayed neutron emission)
2n (2-neutron emission)

59Sc

Mass Number59
Neutron Number38
Relative Atomic Mass
58.988374 ± 0.000268 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
Spin7/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year2009
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)
β n (β-delayed neutron emission)
2n (2-neutron emission)

60Sc

Mass Number60
Neutron Number39
Relative Atomic Mass
59.995115 ± 0.000537 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
Spin3
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year2009
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)
β n (β-delayed neutron emission)
2n (2-neutron emission)

61Sc

Mass Number61
Neutron Number40
Relative Atomic Mass
61.000537 ± 0.000644 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
Spin7/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year2009
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)
β n (β-delayed neutron emission)
2n (2-neutron emission)

62Sc

Mass Number62
Neutron Number41
Relative Atomic Mass
62.007848 ± 0.000644 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
Spin
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year2018
Parity

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)
β n (β-delayed neutron emission)
2n (2-neutron emission)

63Sc

Mass Number63
Neutron Number42
Relative Atomic Mass
63.014031 ± 0.000751 Da
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
Spin7/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)
β n (β-delayed neutron emission)
2n (2-neutron emission)
Scandium sublimed dendritic and 1cm3 cube

History

In 1879, Lars Fredrik Nilson and his team detected scandium in the minerals euxenite and gadolinite. Nilson prepared 2 grams of scandium oxide of high purity. Per Teodor Cleve showed that scandium had properties similar to those predicted by Mendeleev for eka-boron. Metallic scandium was first prepared in 1937 by Fischer and his colleagues. From the Latin word Scandia, Scandinavia

DiscoverersLars Nilson
Discovery LocationSweden
Discovery Year1879
Etymology (Name Origin)Latin: Scandia, Scandinavia.
PronunciationSKAN-di-em (English)
Scandium is considered to be of low toxicity
The stable form of scandium is created in supernovas via the r-process

Uses

Scandium is used in sports equipment such as golf iron shafts, baseball bats, bicycle frames and fishing rods. Scandium iodide, along with sodium iodide, when added to a modified form of mercury-vapor lamp, produces a form of metal halide lamp. The radioactive isotope 46Sc is used in oil refineries as a tracing agent. Scandium metal is used in some aerospace applications. Scandum oxide (Sc2O3) is used in the manufacture of high-intensity electric lamps. Scandium iodide (ScI3) is used in lamps that produce light having a color closely matching natural sunlight.

Sources

Occurs mainly in the minerals thortveitile (~34% scandium) and wiikite. Also in some tin and tungsten ores. Pure scandium is obtained as a by-product of uranium refining.

Abundance
Abundance in Earth's crust
Natural Abundance (Oceans)
0.0000006 mg/L
Natural Abundance (Human Body)
Natural Abundance (Meteor)
0.00064 %
Natural Abundance (Sun)
0.000004 %
Abundance in Universe
0.000003 %

Nuclear Screening Constants

1s0.5434
2p3.9454
2s6.4264
3d13.8801
3p11.5938
3s10.6602
4s16.3676

Also Known As

  • Sc
  • element 21
  • 21Sc

Translations

  • Italianscandio
  • Norwegian Bokmålscandium
  • Frenchscandium
  • GermanScandium
  • Spanishescandio
  • Dutchscandium
  • Chinese (Traditional)
  • Russianскандий
  • Portugueseescândio
  • Polishskand
  • Hebrewסקנדיום
  • Afrikaansskandium
  • Amharicስካንዲየም
  • AragoneseEscandio
  • Arabicسكانديوم
  • AsturianEscandiu
  • AzerbaijaniSkandium
  • BelarusianСкандый
  • Bulgarianскандий
  • Banglaস্ক্যানডিয়াম
  • BretonSkandiom
  • Bosnianskandij
  • Catalanescandi
  • CorsicanScandiu
  • Czechskandium
  • ChuvashСканди
  • WelshScandiwm
  • Danishscandium
  • Greekσκάνδιο
  • Esperantoskandio
  • Estonianskandium
  • Basqueeskandio
  • Persianاسکاندیم
  • Finnishskandium
  • Northern FrisianSkandium
  • FriulianScandi
  • IrishScaindiam
  • GalicianEscandio
  • ManxScandjum
  • Hakka ChineseScandium
  • HawaiianScandium
  • Hindiस्कैण्डियम
  • Fiji HindiScandium
  • Croatianskandij
  • Haitian CreoleSkandyòm
  • Hungarianszkandium
  • Armenianսկանդիում
  • Interlinguascandium
  • Indonesianskandium
  • Idoskandio
  • Icelandicskandín
  • Japaneseスカンジウム
  • Lojbanjinmrskandi
  • JavaneseSkandium
  • Georgianსკანდიუმი
  • KazakhСкандий
  • Kannadaಸ್ಕ್ಯಾಂಡಿಯಮ್
  • Korean스칸듐
  • KurdishSkandiyûm
  • KomiСкандий
  • Latinscandium
  • LuxembourgishScandium
  • LigurianScandio
  • Lithuanianskandis
  • Latvianskandijs
  • MacedonianСкандиум
  • Malayalamസ്കാൻഡിയം
  • Marathiस्कॅन्डियम
  • Western MariСкандий
  • MalaySkandium
  • Norwegian Nynorskscandium
  • OccitanEscandi
  • Punjabiਸਕੈਂਡਿਅਮ
  • Western Panjabiسکینڈیم
  • QuechuaIskandyu
  • Romanianscandiu
  • Sicilianscanniu
  • Serbo-CroatianSkandij
  • Sinhalaස්කැන්ඩියම්
  • Slovakskandium
  • Slovenianskandij
  • Serbianскандијум
  • Saterland FrisianScandium
  • Swedishskandium
  • SwahiliSkandi
  • Tamilஇசுக்காண்டியம்
  • Teluguస్కాండియం
  • Thaiสแกนเดียม
  • TagalogIskandiyo
  • Turkishskandiyum
  • Uyghurسكاندىي
  • Ukrainianскандій
  • Urduاسکینصر
  • UzbekSkandiy
  • VepsSkandii
  • Vietnamesescandi
  • WarayEscandyo
  • KalmykСкандион
  • Yiddishסקאנדיום
  • YorubaScandium
  • Chinese
  • CebuanoEskandyo
  • Central Kurdishسکاندیۆم
  • Gujaratiસ્કેન્ડિયમ
  • Burmeseစကန္ဒီယမ်
  • PiedmonteseScandio
  • TatarСкандий
  • Odiaସ୍କାଣ୍ଡିଅମ
  • Newariस्क्यान्डियम
  • Cantonese
  • SomaliIskaandhiyaam
  • Literary Chinese
  • Belarusian (Taraskievica orthography)Сканд
  • AlbanianSkandiumi
  • AromanianScandiu
  • Nepaliस्क्यान्डियम
  • KyrgyzСкандий
  • LimburgishScandium
  • FaroeseSkandium
  • LombardScandio
  • Malteseskandju
  • Scottish GaelicScandium
  • Portuguese (Brazil)escândio
  • TajikСкандий
  • Sanskritस्काण्डियम
  • Mongolianсканди
  • cdoScandium
  • Min Nan ChineseScandium
  • Bhojpuriस्कैंडियम
  • Tibetanསེ་ཀན་ཌིམ།
  • SundaneseSkandium
  • Lingua Franca Novascandio
  • Wu Chinese
  • Low GermanScandium
  • oloSkandium
  • kbpSɩkandɩyɔm
  • Paliस्क्यान्डियम
  • Chinese (Taiwan)
  • Chinese (Simplified)
  • Kotavasecandel
  • SardinianIscàndiu
  • German (Switzerland)Scandium
  • English (Canada)Scandium
  • English (United Kingdom)scandium
  • Moroccan Arabicسكانديوم
  • Egyptian Arabicسكانديوم
  • Pashtoسکېنډيوم
  • CornishSkandiom
  • BikolEskandyo
  • Chinese (Hong Kong SAR China)
  • BalineseSkandium
  • blkသကဲန္ဒီယမ်
  • MalagasySkandiôma