yttrium

[i-tree-uhm]

noun

Chemistry.

1. a rare trivalent metallic element, found in gadolinite and other minerals. Y; 88.905; 39; 4.47.

yttrium

/ ˈɪtrɪəm /

noun

1. a silvery metallic element occurring in monazite and gadolinite and used in various alloys, in lasers, and as a catalyst. Symbol: Y; atomic no: 39; atomic wt: 88.90585; valency: 3; relative density: 4.469; melting pt: 1522°C; boiling pt: 3338°C

yttrium

1. A silvery metallic element found in the same ores as elements of the lanthanide series. Yttrium is used to strengthen magnesium and aluminum alloys, to provide the red color in color televisions, and as a component of various optical and electronic devices. Atomic number 39; atomic weight 88.906; melting point 1,522°C; boiling point 3,338°C; specific gravity 4.45 (25°C); valence 3.

2. See Periodic Table

Other Word Forms

• yttric adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of yttrium¹

1815–25; < New Latin, named after Ytterby. See ytterbia, -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of yttrium¹

C19: New Latin; see _ytterbia

Example Sentences

Although you may not be familiar with the names of these rare earths - like neodymium, yttrium and europium - you will be very familiar with the products that they are used in.

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One of their samples turned out to be a brilliant blue, named YInMn blue after the component elements yttrium, indium and manganese.

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The most challenging and expensive aspect of making pure rare earth materials -- the 14 lanthanides as well as yttrium and scandium -- for clean energy technologies is separating individual rare earth elements from one another.

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However, these hopes quickly died out, as the chloride batteries were considered impractical due to their heavy reliance on expensive rare earth metals, including yttrium, scandium, and lanthanide elements, as secondary components.

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The 17 elements are: lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, scandium, yttrium.

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