Scandium (Sc) Fun Facts

21 Sc
Superhero Identity

"The Alloy Ace, a rare hero who makes other metals super-strong, the secret weapon of fighter jets."

The true essence of Scandium (Sc) on the molecular frontier.

Appearance

A soft, silvery-white metallic element.

Everyday Connection

High-end, lightweight bicycle frames.

In Pop Culture

A valuable and rare resource in many space-based video games like 'Elite Dangerous'.

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Did You Know?

1

The existence and properties of scandium were predicted by Dmitri Mendeleev five years before it was actually discovered; he called it 'ekaboron'.

2

Adding a small amount of scandium to aluminium creates an alloy that is exceptionally strong and lightweight, used in fighter jets and high-end bicycle frames.

3

Scandium is more abundant in the Moon's crust than it is on Earth.

4

The bright, white light in stadium lamps often comes from scandium iodide being added to mercury-vapor lamps.

5

It is named after Scandinavia, as the chemist who discovered it, Lars Fredrik Nilson, was Swedish.