Element 39
Yttrium (Y)
Yttrium (Y) is element 39 of the periodic table, a transition metal in period 5, group 3 (d-block) with an atomic mass of 88.906 and is a solid at standard conditions.
At a glance
- Atomic number
- 39
- Symbol
- Y
- Atomic mass
- 88.906 u
- Category
- Transition metals
- Period
- 5
- Group
- 3
- Block
- d-block
- Phase at STP
- solid
Electron structure
- Electron configuration
- 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d1 5s2
- Shorthand configuration
- [Kr] 4d1 5s2
- Electrons per shell
- 2, 8, 18, 9, 2
- Oxidation states
- +1, +2, +3
Physical properties
- Melting point
- 1,799 K (1,525.85 °C)
- Boiling point
- 3,609 K (3,335.85 °C)
- Density
- 4.469 g/cm³
- Phase
- solid
Atomic properties
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 1.22
- Atomic radius
- 212 pm
- Covalent radius
- 190 pm
- First ionization energy
- 600 kJ/mol
- Electron affinity
- 30 kJ/mol
Notable isotopes
| Isotope | Mass | Abundance | Stability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Y-89 | 88.90585 | 100% | Stable |
Common uses
- LEDs
- Superconductors
- Lasers
- Cancer treatment
Discovery
- Year
- 1794
- Discovered by
- Johan Gadolin
- Country
- Finland
Frequently asked questions
- Is yttrium a metal?
- Yes. Yttrium is a metal, classified as a transition metal on the periodic table.
- How many protons does yttrium have?
- Yttrium has 39 protons. Its atomic number is 39, which is also the number of electrons in a neutral atom of yttrium.
- What group and period is yttrium in?
- Yttrium is in group 3 and period 5 of the periodic table, in the d-block.
- What is the atomic mass of yttrium?
- The atomic mass of yttrium is 88.906 u (unified atomic mass units).
Keep exploring
Yttrium's row is on the printable element property sheet, and its tile is on the periodic table wall chart - the same numbers as above, laid out for A4 or A3 paper.