Scandium
Scandium is chemical element. Its symbol is Sc. It has an atomic number of 21 on the periodic table.
Scandium is a metal in a group known as the transition metals. It is also a rare earth metal. What this means is that there is not very much scandium found in the earth. Because of this, the pure metal can be expensive. The pure metal is very reactive, and will react with other elements like oxygen. The metal turns from shiny to gray.
Scandium is not very dangerous because there is not much of it on Earth, so there is not enough of it to harm us. It does not have many uses. Its main use is perhaps as a component in Mercury-vapor lamps. These lamps are used to light stadiums.
Written for younger readers
Scandium, in simpler words
This version comes from Wikijunior, a set of books written for children aged 8 to 11. It is shorter and uses plainer language than the article above.
From Wikijunior: The Elements
NOTOC
Scandium is a soft metal with a silvery appearance. It develops a slightly yellowish or pinkish cast when oxidized by air. It has no distinctive odor, nor any recognizable taste.
The element scandium was discovered because an element that was previously unknown was shown in Mendeleev’s periodic table. Mendeleev had seen a gap between calcium and titanium.
Lars Fredrik Nilson specifically looked for the unknown element and found it in 1879. Scandium’s atomic number fit into the gap as predicted.
Lars Frederik Nilson named the new element scandium because it had been discovered in Sweden. Scandia is the Latin word for Scandinavia.
Scandium is found in larger deposits in only a few minerals, such as thortveitite and bazzite. Thortveitite is primarily found in Norway. Smaller occurrences have been reported in Japan and Russia. In the United States, it is found in North Carolina and Colorado. Bazzite has been identified in Italy, France, and Switzerland.
Scandium does not occur freely in nature, but trace amounts are present in over 800 known minerals. It ranks as the 50 th most abundant element in Earth’s crust.
Scandium has also been detected in the atmosphere of the Sun!
Scandium helps make very bright lights. It is used in mercury vapor lamps that light up places like stadiums and sports arenas. It makes the light brighter and more natural like sunshine. People can see night games clearly.
When scandium is mixed with other metals, it creates strong materials called alloys. Aluminum-scandium alloys increase strength and are recyclable. They are used in bicycles, baseball bats, airplane parts, and electronics Aluminum-scandium alloys are used in 3D printing, to create tiny parts for tools and machines.
Titanium-scandium alloys are very light weight and help prevent corrosion. These are used in prosthetics, aerospace, and advanced weaponry.
Magnesium-scandium alloys reduce weight in racing bikes.
Scandium is dangerous in several ways. Scandium powder burns easily. It can ignite quickly when exposed to air or heat. In addition, long-term exposure to its vapors may harm lungs and cause respiratory problems. Ingesting small amounts over a long period may cause liver damage. People who work in labs, mining, or manufacturing may be at higher risk. They need to follow safety procedures and wear protective clothing.
Where this page comes from
The article above is adapted from “Scandium” on Simple English Wikipedia, by its contributors. We removed reference markers, navigation boxes and tables, expanded measurement templates into readable numbers, and kept the prose otherwise intact. The simpler version is adapted from Wikijunior on Wikibooks.
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