* Scandium is a member of the transition metals family:
____________________________________________________________________
SCANDIUM / Sc / 21
A soft, silvery-white reactive metal that tarnishes rapidly and
burns easily if ignited, reacting after immersion in water to
release hydrogen gas. Nearly all scandium is in the form of stable
Sc<45/21>, though there are tiny traces of radioactive isotopes of
scandium found in the soil as well.
atomic weight: 44.955910
abundance: 35th
density: 2.989 gm/cc
melting point: 1,541 C
boiling point: 2,836 C
valence: 3
____________________________________________________________________
Scandium has a few minor uses. For example, it can be used to improve the germination of seeds: when seeds are sprayed with a weak solution of scandium in water, the number of seeds that germinate are increased. Scandium has properties surprisingly similar to aluminum, differing mainly in a higher melting point, and could be used in similar applications, but its distribution is dispersed, and it is very expensive.
