scandium
Americannoun
noun
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A soft, silvery, very lightweight metallic element that is found in various rare minerals and is a byproduct in the processing of certain uranium ores. It has a high melting point and is used to make high-intensity lights. Atomic number 21; atomic weight 44.956; melting point 1,540°C; boiling point 2,850°C; specific gravity 2.99; valence 3.
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See Periodic Table
Etymology
Origin of scandium
From New Latin, dating back to 1875–80; see origin at Scandia, -ium
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Note: Rare earth elements include 15 lanthanides, plus scandium and yttrium.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
These include scandium, yttrium and the lanthanides, which account for 15 chemical elements in the periodic table.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 28, 2025
The region holds deposits of many of the very elements China has placed under export controls: yttrium, scandium, erbium, europium, ytterbium, samarium, and lutetium.
From Barron's ● Oct. 24, 2025
The deep sea is home to minerals such as lithium, scandium and cobalt - which are critical for green technologies.
From BBC ● Dec. 2, 2024
Its group members, scandium and yttrium, have the same form; we have not examined the fourth; the group is positive.
From Occult Chemistry Clairvoyant Observations on the Chemical Elements by Sinnett, A. P.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
