In 1869, Mendeleev left a blank cell in his periodic table and labeled it "ekaboron." He predicted the missing element's mass, density, and oxide formula. Ten years later, Swedish chemist Lars Fredrik Nilson found it hiding inside a rare mineral. The properties matched almost perfectly. Scandium became one of the strongest proofs that the periodic law actually works.
Today, scandium is an engineer's secret weapon. Add just 0.2% to aluminum, and the alloy's strength doubles — without gaining any extra weight. That is why scandium shows up in fighter jets, spacecraft, and professional sports equipment.
Scandium is a silvery metal — lighter than titanium and stronger than pure aluminum. It sits at the very start of the d-block as a transition metal. The Earth's crust contains only about 22 ppm of scandium, less than lead. It never forms concentrated deposits of its own.
Global scandium production is a mere 15–20 tons per year. The main suppliers are China, Russia, and Ukraine. A kilogram of scandium oxide costs over $1,500. Yet even a tiny dash of scandium dramatically improves the performance of aluminum alloys.
Metallic scandium has low toxicity and is relatively safe to handle under normal conditions. However, fine scandium dust is a fire hazard — it can ignite from a spark. Inhaling the dust irritates the airways and lungs. Scandium compounds may irritate skin and eyes. Protective gloves, goggles, and proper ventilation are required when working with it.
Mendeleev predicted scandium 10 years before its discovery. He called it 'ekaboron' and nailed the atomic mass, density, and oxide formula. When Nilson found scandium in 1879, every prediction checked out.
Adding just 0.2% scandium to aluminum doubles the alloy's strength. The skin panels on MiG-29 and MiG-31 fighter jets are made from exactly these aluminum-scandium alloys.
Total global scandium production is only 15–20 tons a year. That is less than a single truckload. This scarcity makes it pricier than silver.
Lamps containing scandium iodide (ScI₃) produce light closest to natural sunlight. They illuminate stadiums and film sets where true-to-life color matters.
Scandium is named after Scandinavia. Nilson chose the name to highlight that the element was first isolated from minerals found in northern Europe.
Scandium has only one stable isotope — ⁴⁵Sc. That makes it monoisotopic — only a handful of metals share this trait.
| Isotope | Mass (u) | Abundance | Half-life | Decay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
45Sc | 44.955912 | 100.00% | stable | — |
Analysis of euxenite and gadolinite