Scandium is a chemical element; it has symbol Sc and atomic number 21. It is a silvery-white metallic element found in the d-block of the periodic table. Usually, it is classified as a rare-earth elem
The rare-earth elements, also called rare-earth metals, or rare earths, are a set of 17 nearly indistinguishable lustrous silvery-white soft heavy metals. The 15 lanthanides, along with scandium, and
Scandium
…has symbol Sc and atomic number 21. It is a silvery-white metallic element found in the d-block of the periodic table. Usually, it is classified as a rare-earth element, together with yttrium and the lanthanides. It was discovered in 1879 by spectral analysis of the minerals euxenite and gadolinite from Scandinavia…
Rare-earth ore (shown with a 19 mm diameter US 1 cent coin for size comparison)
Refined rare-earth oxides are heavy, gritty powders usually brown or black, but can be lighter colors as shown here. Back row: gadolinium · praseodymium · cerium Middle row: samarium · lanthanum Front: neodymium