What Is Yttrium?
Yttrium is a chemical element with the symbol Y and atomic number 39, found within the transition metal block of the periodic table.
A silvery-metallic transition metal used in LED lights and superconductors.
As a transition metal in Period 5 and Group 3 (Transition Metals), yttrium's placement on the table reflects its electron configuration of [Kr] 4d¹ 5s², which governs its bonding behavior and the type of compounds it typically forms.
Position on the Periodic Table
Yttrium is located in Period 5, which continues the transition metal pattern seen in Period 4 but one principal shell further out.
Within that row, yttrium sits in Group 3 (Transition Metals), alongside elements that share a similar number of valence electrons and, by extension, similar chemical behavior.
This position is not arbitrary — the periodic table was deliberately organized so that an element's row and column reveal its expected reactivity, bonding pattern, and physical state at a glance.
Physical & Chemical Properties
Yttrium has an atomic mass of 88.906 u and a density of 4.472 g/cm³. Its melting point is 1526°C and its boiling point is 3336°C.
As a transition metal, yttrium conducts electricity and heat well, and its atoms pack into a metallic crystal lattice held together by shared, delocalized electrons.
Electron Configuration Explained
Yttrium's electron configuration is [Kr] 4d¹ 5s², describing how its electrons are distributed across shells and subshells around the nucleus.
Reading the configuration in order shows electrons filling shells of increasing energy, following the standard Aufbau principle that explains how atomic structure builds up across the periodic table.
The outermost (valence) electrons shown in this configuration are what ultimately determine yttrium's chemical reactivity and the type of bonds it forms with other elements.
History & Discovery
Yttrium was formally discovered in 1794, J. Gadolin, identified through the careful isolation and analytical techniques typical of that era's chemical research.
Many elements from this period were anticipated by Dmitri Mendeleev's periodic table, which successfully predicted gaps corresponding to undiscovered elements well before laboratory instruments existed to confirm them directly.
What Is Yttrium Used For?
Yttrium's specific properties make it useful in several applications, including:
- LED phosphors
- Camera lenses
- Superconductors
- Alloy strengthener
- Laser crystals
These uses reflect yttrium's underlying classification as a transition metal, since the same properties that define its category in chemistry also determine where it becomes practically useful.
Fun Facts About Yttrium
- Yttrium, ytterbium, terbium and erbium are all named after Ytterby — a small village in Sweden.
- Yttrium is element number 39 on the periodic table, in Period 5 and Group 3.
- Its standard atomic mass is 88.906 u, calculated from the natural abundance of its isotopes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Yttrium's atomic number?
Yttrium has atomic number 39.
What is Yttrium's chemical symbol?
Yttrium's symbol is Y.
What group and period is Yttrium in?
Yttrium is in Period 5, Group 3 (Transition Metals).
What is Yttrium's atomic mass?
Yttrium's standard atomic mass is 88.906 u.