About

Yttrium is a silvery-metallic transition metal chemically similar to the lanthanides. It is most famously used in red phosphors, particularly yttrium oxide-sulfide doped with europium, which produced the red color in older CRT television screens. It is also used in various alloys, lasers (YAG lasers), and is a key component in some high-temperature superconductors.

Atomic Properties

Atomic Number39

Atomic Weight88.906 u

Neutrons (common)50

Electron Configuration[Kr] 4d¹ 5s²

Full Configuration1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹ 5s²

Electrons per Shell2, 8, 18, 9, 2

Electronegativity1.22

Electron Affinity29.6 kJ/mol

Oxidation States+3

Covalent Radius162 pm

Ionic Radius90 pm

Periodic Table Position

Group3

Period5

BlockD

Chemical SeriesTransition metals

Physical Properties

State at STPsolid

Appearancesilvery-white

Crystal Structurehcp

Magnetic Orderingparamagnetic

Speed of Sound3,300 m/s

Poisson Ratio0.243

Thermal Properties

Melting Point1,799 K

Boiling Point3,609 K

Triple Point1,799 K

Thermal Expansion0 1/K

Thermal Conductivity17.2 W/(m·K)

Specific Heat0.298 J/(g·K)

Molar Heat26.5 J/(mol·K)

Heat of Fusion11.42 kJ/mol

Heat of Vaporization363 kJ/mol

Abundance

In Earth's Crust33 ppm

In Ocean0 ppm

In Solar System0.005 ppm

In Universe0.007 ppm

Discovery

Discovered byJohan Gadolin

Discovery Year1,794

Occurrenceprimordial

CAS Number7440-65-5

Electron Configuration

Energy

↿⇂

↿

Isotopes of Yttrium

Symbol ▲	Mass (u) ▲	Abundance ▲	Half-life ▲	Decay Mode ▲
⁸⁸Y	87.909501	—	106.629 d	Electron Capture, Positron Emission
⁸⁹Y	88.905850	100%	Stable	Stable
⁹⁰Y	89.907150	—	64.05 h	Beta Minus Decay

Interactive Visualization

Explore the 3D Bohr model of Yttrium in our interactive viewer.

View 3D Model of Yttrium