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

Visited this month by AFP, the southeastern mining region of Ganzhou -- which specialises in "heavy" rare earths including yttrium and terbium -- was a hive of activity.

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Heavy rare-earth elements include dysprosium, terbium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, and yttrium.

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These include scandium, yttrium and the lanthanides, which account for 15 chemical elements in the periodic table.

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The region holds deposits of many of the very elements China has placed under export controls: yttrium, scandium, erbium, europium, ytterbium, samarium, and lutetium.

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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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