Yttrium
Element
Discovery
In 1787, a lieutenant in the Swedish army named Carl Axel Arrhenius (1757-1824) found an interesting new stone near Ytterby. He gave the stone to Gadolin for analysis. At the time, Gadolin was professor of chemistry at the University of Abo in Finland. Gadolin decided that Arrhenius' rock contained a new element. That element was later given the name yttrium.
Use for Yttrium
The largest use of the element is as its oxide yttria, Y2O3, which is usedin making red phosphors for color television picture tubes. Yttrium metal has found some use alloyed in small amounts with other metals and It isused to increase the strength of aluminium and magnesium alloys.
Physical features of Yttrium
Yttrium has a metallic silver luster. It is relatively stable in air except when finely divided.
Chemical features of Yttrium
Yttrium turnings will ignite in air if their temperature exceeds 400°C.
Periodic Table Information
Atomic Number: 39
Symbol: Y
Atomic Mass: 88.90585
Where Yttrium is found
Yttrium is never found in nature as the free element. Yttrium is found in the ores monazite sand and bastn site , ores containing small amounts of all the rare earth metals, as well as in some other ores. It is difficult to separate from other rare earth elements.
Reference!
Mckenzie Rainwater
Mr. Miller
Physical Science 9
17 December 2014
http://www.chemistryexplained.com/elements/T-Z/Yttrium.html#ixzz3MAWsBGDq