Scandium

Atomic number

21

Atomic mass (u)

44.95591

Category

Transition metal

Standard state

Solid

Melting point

1540.85 °C (1814 K)

Boiling point

2835.85 °C (3109 K)

Density (g/cm³)

2.99

Electronegativity (Pauling)

1.36

Electron configuration

[Ar]4s2 3d1

Oxidation states

+3

Atomic radius (pm)

211

First ionization energy (eV)

6.561

Discovery & recognition

Discovery year / period (PubChem)

1879

Discovery credited to (RSC)

Lars Frederik Nilson

Date or period recorded by RSC

1879

Discovery place

Uppsala, Sweden

An ancient date does not identify a first human discovery. Different references may date observation, isolation and formal recognition differently.

Natural occurrence & production

The creation of an element’s nuclei and its concentration into terrestrial deposits are different processes. The occurrence note below concerns its presence or production on Earth; it is not a complete account of nucleosynthesis.

“Scandium is very widely distributed, and occurs in minute quantities in over 800 mineral species.”

Royal Society of Chemistry · occurrence excerpt ↗

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Reference values are not product specifications. Blank values have not been estimated. For superheavy elements, some properties and family assignments are theoretical or incompletely measured.