YTTRIUM, ZIRCONIUM, NIOBIUM, MOLYBDENUM, RUTHENIUM, RHODIUM
YTTRIUM
Atomic symbol: Y
Atomic weight: 88.90585
Atomic number: 39
Electron configuration: 2-8-18-9-2
Oxidation states: +3
State of matter: solid
Heavy metal, brittle
Discovered in 1794 by Johan Gadolin
Boils at 3337°C, melts at 1529°C
Notes:
Yttrium is an iron gray, lustrous, and darkens when exposed to light. It is used for red phosphorous in televisions. It is ductile and fairly reactive. Yttrium is the first rare earth element discovered, and can occur as a byproduct of nuclear fission. It is an important element in the high-tech superconductor yttrium barium copper oxide.
ZIRCONIUM
Atomic symbol: Zr
Atomic weight: 91.224
Atomic number: 40
Electron configuration: 2-8-18-10-2
Oxidation states: +4
State of matter: solid
Heavy metal, brittle
Discovered in 1824 by J