A Peek At The Heavy Metal Scandium

Word Origin: The name of this was derived from the word Scandinavia because the chemist who discovered it found that it existed with the rare minerals that can only be found in Scandinavia. Its name was derived from the Latin word “Scanda” which means Scandinavia.

History: This chemical was discovered in 1879 by the Swedish chemist Lars Fredrik Nilson (1840-1899). Its discovery was actually accidental. Lars Nilson originally intended to isolate ytterbium (pronounced as i-TUR-bee-em) from the earth minerals euxenite and gadolinite. In order to do this, erbium oxide must be prepared and reacted to form erbium nitrate.

When he heated erbium nitrate, he learned that his preparation contained small amount of a then unknown element with a low atomic value unlike anything known at that time. The spectral analysis of the minerals gadolinite and euxenite led to its discovery. Since its discovery, Lars Nilson continued to study it to discover more about its technical chemical properties.

Because it was not widely available and hard to isolate and prepare, it was only developed for commercial use in the seventies. In 2012, there were on average only around 50 kg of this substance in pure form that is traded worldwide.

What can be expected from Exposure to Scandium (Sc):

Short Term Exposure: Short term exposure does not produce any hazardous biological effects. Even though its concentration in the earth’s crust reaches around 18 to 25 ppm (Cobalt is 20 to 30 ppm), only very little trace amounts of it reaches the food chain. This substance is considered non-toxic, but there are few suggestions that long-term exposure to it can be carcinogenic (capable of causing cancer).

In an everyday setting, this element is rarely available in free form. Often, it is used to form alloys, especially with aluminum. Unlike lead, which can be available even in lipsticks and seafood, this element has a low possibility of being ingested.

Long Term Exposure: Although it does not present any short term health hazards due to the fact that it is not widely available in the environment and everyday setting, it does present a health hazards if long term exposure occurs. This element is particularly hazardous to those who are exposed to it in working environment.

When ingested, it can cause liver toxicity. Gases and small particulates can be inhaled in the air during excavation, isolation or synthesis. A person constantly exposed to the particulates to this element in pure form can develop lung embolisms.

Since the seventies, the use of this element has increased. Companies that produce petrol dump it in the environment. Household and sports equipment that are made with this element or its alloys can also contribute to the accumulation in the soil, which in turn gets passed to the plants, animals and finally, to humans.

Some Side Effect: Exposure to it can cause damage to the reproductive, respiratory and nervous system. However, incidence of its toxicity to humans is rare.

What Can You Do about Exposure to This Element? Testing methods are not fully developed to detect Scandium poisoning, unlike lead and mercury.  It is best to observe proper safety methods when handling this element in laboratories.

Technical: This chemical element has the symbol “Sc” in the periodic table. In its pure form, it presents a dark silver appearance that turns to silvery white when light hits it. The pure form of this substance can be achieved by applying heat to its fluoride compound and calcium metal. It ignites easily and tarnishes quickly once it has been exposed to air. When it reacts with water, it forms hydrogen gas. It is the 50th most abundant element of the planet earth. It is solid and forms a hexagonal crystal.

Name: Scandium
Symbol: Sc
Atomic Number: 21
Atomic Mass: 44.96 amu
Melting Point: 1814 K ​(1541 °C, ​2806 °F)
Boiling Point: 3109 K ​(2836 °C, ​5136 °F)
Number of Protons/Electrons: 21
Number of Neutrons: 24
Classification: Transition Metal (Groups 3-12. Malleable, ductile and able to conduct heat and electricity)

Uses: Tracer in pipelines and in oil wells; Mixed with aluminum to create aluminum alloys used in aerospace components, bicycle frames, fishing rods, iron shafts for golf clubs and baseball bats. Its iodide compound is used for mercury vapor lamps that are used in photography studios and films to replicate natural sunlight. Its sulfate compound, when properly diluted, is used to improve and speed up the germination of peas, corns and wheat.

Some Facts about Scandium (Sc):

• It is hard to isolate and is not found free on earth. Naturally, it is available in very minute amounts together with over 800 rare minerals. Furthermore, it is only found in concentrated form with the rare minerals in Scandinavia and Madagascar.  It is present with such minerals as euxenite, gadolinite and thortvetite. The pure form is thus expensive, costing about US$1400 per 100 grams. In the earth’s crust, its concentration can range from 18 to 25 ppm, but it is the process of refining that accounts for the bulk of the price.

• It is also considered as a by-product of uranium refining.

• It has a density of 293 K: 2.989 g/cm3.

• Its oceanic abundance is about 6×10-7 milligrams per liter.

• There are about 13 radioisotopes of this element found today. The most stable of them is 46SC with a half-life (the time required for the decay of half of a sample elementary particles) of about 83 days. The majority of the other isotopes have half lives that are shorter than 2 minutes.

• The first pound (lb) of its pure form was produced in 1960. By that time, its price was US$270 per gram because its primary source was isolation from the rare earth minerals found in Scandinavia and Madagascar. It was then deemed too expensive and unfeasible for commercial use.

• Scientists and chemist are predicting the use of this in the production of fuel cells in the future.

• When it oxidizes with air, it develops a pinkish and yellowish cast on its surface.

• Even very dilute acids are enough to dissolve it even though it is classified as a metal.

[The information contained in this article is believed to be reliable. I have taken every precaution to verify its accuracy; I am not a medical professional and make no warranties, representations or guarantees of any kind as to its accuracy. Medical knowledge is in a constant state of change, and what I have written here may be out of date by the time you read it. The information that I have provided here is for informational purposes only and not for use in diagnosing any condition that you may or may not have. Always consult with you doctor before treating yourself.]