Periodic table / Yttrium

Overview

Yttrium is a chemical element with symbol Y and atomic number 39. It is a silvery-metallic transition metal chemically similar to the lanthanides and it has often been classified as a "rare earth element". Yttrium is almost always found combined with the lanthanides in rare earth minerals and is never found in nature as a free element.

Electron configuration

The electron configuration of Yttrium is [Kr] 4d1 5s2, with electron shells of 2, 8, 18, 9, 2.

Physical and chemical properties

Yttrium is classified as a transition metal. It has an atomic mass of 88.906 and exists as a solid at standard conditions, appearing as silvery white.

Real-world uses of Yttrium

As a transition metal, Yttrium is typically used in alloys, industrial manufacturing, electronics, or as a catalyst in chemical reactions.

Interesting facts about Yttrium

• Yttrium has the atomic number 39 and chemical symbol Y.
• It belongs to period 5, group 3 of the periodic table.
• Yttrium was discovered by Johan Gadolin.

Explore Yttrium interactively

Want to compare Yttrium with other elements or see it highlighted on the full table? Open the interactive periodic table and click on Y to explore properties, trends, and neighboring elements. You can also test your knowledge with our periodic table quiz game.