Scandium (Sc)
MATERIAL
OVERVIEW
(L. Scandia: Scandinavia) On the basis of the Periodic System, Mendeleev predicted the existence of ekaboron, which would have an atomic weight between 40 of calcium and 48 of titanium.
The element was discovered by Nilson in 1878 in the minerals euxenite and gadolinite, which had not yet been found anywhere except in Scandinavia. By processing 10 kg of euxenite and other residues of rare-earth minerals, Nilson was able to prepare about 2g of highly pure scandium oxide. Later scientists pointed out that Nilson's scandium was identical with Mendeleev's ekaboron.
Scandium is apparently much more abundant (the 23rd most) in the sun and certain stars than on earth (the 50th most abundant). It is widely distributed on earth, occurring in very minute quantities in over 800 mineral species. The blue color of beryl (aquamarine variety) is said to be due to scandium. It occurs as a principal component in the rare mineral thortveitite, found in Scandinavia and Malagasy. It is also found in the residues remaining after the extraction of tungsten from Zinnwald wolframite, and in wiikite and bazzite.
Most scandium is presently being recovered from thortveitite or is extracted as a by-product from uranium mill tailings. Metallic scandium was first prepared in 1937 by Fischer, Brunger, and Grienelaus who electrolyzed a eutectic melt of potassium, lithium and scandium chlorides at 700 to 800oC. Tungsten wire and a pool of molten zinc served as the electrodes in a graphite crucible. Pure scandium is now produced by reducing scandium fluoride with calcium metal.
The production of the first pound of 99% pure scandium metal was announced in 1960.
Scandium is a silver-white metal which develops a slightly yellowish or pinkish cast upon exposure to air. A relatively soft element, scandium resembles yttrium and the rare-earth metals more than it resembles aluminum or titanium.
It is a very light metal and has a much higher melting point than aluminum, making it of interest to designers of spacecraft. Scandium is not attacked by a 1:1 mixture of HNO3 and 48% HF.
Reference: Los Alamos National Laboratory, <http://periodic.lanl.gov/elements/21.html>
GENERAL
PROPERTIES
|
Symbol: |
Sc |
|
Atomic
Number: |
21 |
|
Atomic
Weight: |
44.9559 |
|
Density: |
2.989
gm/cc |
| Estimated Crustal Abundance: | 2.1x101 miligrams per Kg |
| Estimated Oceanic Abundance: | 6x10-7 miligrams per liter |
|
Melting
Point: |
1541
oC |
|
Boiling
Point: |
2831
oC |
|
Thermal
Conductivity: |
0.158
W/cm/oK
@ 298.2 oK |
|
Electrical
Resistivity: |
61.0
microhm-cm @ 22 oC |
|
Electronegativity: |
1.3
Paulings |
|
Specific
Heat: |
0.133
Cal/g/oK
@ 25 oC |
|
Heat
of Vaporization: |
81
K-Cal/gm atom at 2831 oC |
|
Heat
of Fusion: |
3.80
Cal/gm mole |
TYPICAL ANALYSES
Impurities in ppm
|
Material
/ Purity: |
3N
|
|
Ca |
200 |
|
Fe |
300 |
|
Si |
200 |
|
Y |
200 |
|
Yb |
100 |
SCANDIUM ROD
|
Material |
Purity |
|
Scandium
Rod .250” |
3N |
|
Scandium
Rod .500” |
3N |
Rod is
cut to order and sold by the inch or foot.
SCANDIUM FOIL
|
Material
|
Purity |
|
Scandium
Foil .001” |
3N |
|
Scandium
Foil .002” |
3N |
|
Scandium
Foil .003” |
3N |
|
Scandium
Foil .004” |
3N |
|
Scandium
Foil .005” |
3N |
|
Scandium
Foil .006” |
3N |
|
Scandium
Foil .007” |
3N |
|
Scandium
Foil .008” |
3N |
|
Scandium
Foil .009” |
3N |
Foil is
cut to order and sold by the square inch or square foot.
SCANDIUM SHEET
|
Material |
Purity |
|
Scandium
Sheet .010” to 0.040” |
3N |
Sheet is
cut to order and sold by the square inch or square foot.
SCANDIUM SPUTTERING
TARGETS
|
Material |
Purity |
|
Scandium
Sputtering Target 2"D X .125"T |
3N |
|
Scandium
Sputtering Target 2"D X .250"T |
3N |
|
Scandium
Sputtering Target 3"D X .125"T |
3N |
|
Scandium
Sputtering Target 3"D X .250"T |
3N |
|
Scandium
Sputtering Target 4"D X .125"T |
3N |
|
Scandium
Sputtering Target 4"D X .250"T |
3N |
Additional
sizes available upon request.
SCANDIUM POWDER, SHOT,
PELLETS, & INGOT
|
Material |
Purity |
|
Scandium
Chips |
3N |
|
Scandium
Ingot |
3N |
|
Scandium
Powder -40 |
3N |
|
Scandium
Powder -40 Mesh, Ampoules Under Dry Argon |
3N |
| Scandium
Powder -40 Mesh, Cans Under Dry Argon |
3N |
Powder,
shot, pellets, and ingots are packaged to order and sold by the gram or
kilogram.
SCANDIUMCOMPOUNDS
|
Material |
Purity |
|
Scandium
Antimonide ScSb -10 Mesh |
3N |
|
Scandium
Bromide ScBr3
-60 Mesh |
3N |
|
Scandium
Chloride ScCl3
-60 Mesh |
3N |
|
Scandium
Fluoride ScF3
1/4"-1/8" Pieces |
3N |
|
Scandium
Fluoride ScF3
-200 Mesh |
3N |
|
Scandium
Iodide ScI3
-60 Mesh |
3N |
|
Scandium
Oxide Sc2O3
-325 Mesh |
3N, 4N |
|
Scandium
Oxide Sc2O3
1/2"-1/8" Pieces |
3N, 4N |
|
Scandium
Phosphide ScP -60 Mesh |
2N5 |
|
Scandium
Selenide Sc2Se3
-100 Mesh -200 Mesh |
3N |
Compounds are packaged to order and sold by the gram or kilogram.
|
Material
Safety Data Sheet - MSDS |