CHEMISTRY GLOSSARY

Yttrium was discovered by Carl Gustaf Mosander (Sweden) in 1843. Named after Ytterby, a village in Sweden. It is silvery, ductile, fairly reactive metal. Exposed surfaces form oxide film. Easily combustible, reacts with oxygen in water to release hydrogen. Yttrium is found in minerals such as monazite, xenotime and yttria. Combined with europium to make red phosphors for colour TV’s. Yttrium oxide and iron oxide combine to form a crystal garnet used in radar.