Yttrium
The 39th element in the series is Yttrium. Yttrium is a transition metal. The transition metals sit in a block in the centre of the table. Yttrium appears in the first position of the second row. This tells us that it has 1 electron in its outer d-orbital.
Although it is never found in nature as a free element, when isolated it is a slivery metal. The surface layer reacts with oxygen giving a passivating layer so Yttrium is stable in air.
It has no role in biology and is thought to cause lung problems in humans.
It was discovered in the late 1700s near Yetterby in Sweeden hence the name -Yttrium.
Yttrium has some interesting uses. As it is very hard, a Yttrium aluminium compound is used to simulate diamond gemstones. Yttrium is also used to start the reaction in which ethene is polymerised to make polythene. When something is used to start a reaction but not used up in the reaction itself scientists call this material a catalyst so we would say that Yttrium catalyses the ethene polymerisation.
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