Atomic number 21
Scandium
Transition metal
In the real world
Quick facts
- Atomic mass
- 44.956
- Group
- 3
- Period
- 4
- State (STP)
- solid
- Electronegativity
- 1.36
- Common ox. states
- +3
Properties
Electron configuration
[Ar] 3d¹ 4s²
- Ionization energy
- 633.1 kJ/mol
- Electron affinity
- 18.1 kJ/mol
- Melting point
- 1814.00 K (1540.8 °C)
- Boiling point
- 3109.00 K (2835.8 °C)
How dangerous is it?
1/5 · Low risk
A lightweight metal you can hold safely as a solid. The only real caution is its powder, which can catch fire because it is so finely divided.
- FlammableImmediate
Finely divided scandium powder can ignite in air because the tiny particles expose so much surface. (as a fine powder, not the solid metal)
The powder is kept away from sparks and open flame; the solid metal needs no special care.
How it bonds
Scandium loses its 4s² and 3d¹ electrons to form Sc³⁺. With no remaining d-electrons, scandium compounds are colorless and behave more like a typical group-3 metal than the colorful d-block elements that follow it.
