Yttrium is a chemical element with the symbol Y and atomic number 39. It is a silvery-metallic transition metal chemically similar to the lanthanides and has often been classified as a "rare-earth element". Yttrium is almost always found in combination with lanthanide elements in rare-earth minerals and is never found in nature as a free element.
Yttrium was discovered in 1794 by the Finnish chemist Johan Gadolin while analyzing the composition of the mineral gadolinite ((Ce, La, Nd, Y)2FeBe2Si2O10), which was named after him. Gadolinite was discovered several years earlier in a quarry near the town of Ytterby, Sweden, from which yttrium gets its name. Yttrium is a relatively abundant element in the Earth's crust, with an abundance of about 33 parts per million. However, it is difficult to extract from its ores due to its similarity to other lanthanide elements. Yttrium is typically extracted from the minerals monazite and bastnaesite using an ion exchange process.
Yttrium is a soft and ductile metal with a high melting point and a low boiling point. It is resistant to corrosion and has good electrical conductivity. Yttrium is also a good absorber of neutrons, making it useful in nuclear applications.Yttrium also has a wide range of uses in a variety of industries. It is used as an additive in alloys to improve their strength and corrosion resistance. Yttrium is also used in the production of lasers, phosphors, and catalysts.
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