Yttrium (Y) - Atomic Structure and Properties

Atomic Model Details

Yttrium (Y) is a chemical element with atomic number 39.

Fundamental Particles

• Atomic Number (Z): 39
• Mass Number (A): 89 (for the most stable isotope, ¹⁸⁹Y)
• Protons: 39
• Electrons: 39
• Neutrons: A - Z = 89 - 39 = 50

Atomic Size

• Metallic Radius: 177 pm
• Ionic Radius (Y³⁺, coordination number 6): 90 pm

Electronic Configuration & Shell Diagram

Electronic Configuration

• Full Electronic Configuration: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹
• Noble Gas Configuration: [Kr] 5s² 4d¹

Shell Diagram Representation

The electrons are distributed in shells as follows:

• K-shell (n=1): 2 electrons
• L-shell (n=2): 8 electrons
• M-shell (n=3): 18 electrons
• N-shell (n=4): 9 electrons (4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹)
• O-shell (n=5): 2 electrons (5s²)

This indicates that Yttrium has two valence electrons in the 5s subshell and one electron in the 4d subshell, which are the primary electrons involved in chemical bonding.

Periodic Trends

Ionization Enthalpy

The energy required to remove an electron from a gaseous atom.

• First Ionization Enthalpy (IE₁): 600 kJ/mol (Y(g) → Y⁺(g) + e⁻)
• Second Ionization Enthalpy (IE₂): 1180 kJ/mol (Y⁺(g) → Y²⁺(g) + e⁻)
• Third Ionization Enthalpy (IE₃): 1980 kJ/mol (Y²⁺(g) → Y³⁺(g) + e⁻)

Electronegativity

A measure of the tendency of an atom to attract a bonding pair of electrons.

• Pauling Scale: 1.22

Electron Gain Enthalpy

The energy change when an electron is added to a neutral gaseous atom to form an anion.

• Electron Gain Enthalpy (ΔH_eg): -30 kJ/mol

Atomic Radius

The size of an atom.

• Metallic Radius: 177 pm

Key Physical Properties

Yttrium is a silvery-white, lustrous metal that is relatively stable in air due to the formation of an oxide layer.

• Density: 4.47 g/cm³
• State at Standard Temperature and Pressure (STP): Solid
• Color: Silvery-white
• Melting Point: 1522 °C (1795 K)
• Boiling Point: 3345 °C (3618 K)