By:Mahmoud Galal Zidan

D & F BLOCK ELEMENTSSCANDIUM GROUP

Scandium ( Sc ) [ Ar ] d1 s2

Yttrium ( Y ) [ Kr ] d1 s2

Lutetium ( Lu ) [ Xe ] d1 s2

Lawrencium (Lr) [ Rn ] d1 s2

electron Configuration [ -- ] d1 s2

SCANDIUM GROUP

Names of Sc Group : IIIB ( USA ) IIIA ( Euro) Gp. 3 ( IUPAC )

PERIODIC TABLE

• The metals are quit reactive and the reactivity increase with increase size

• Complex are formed with strong complexing agent like EDTA .• They burn in O2 and gives M2O3 and tarnish in air except Yttrium is

un reactive .• They react slowly with cold water and more rabidly with heating

La + H2O La(OH)3 + LaO.OH • Hydroxides increase on descending the group where Y(OH)3 and

La(OH)3 are basic since scandium is amphoteric it dissolves in NaOH Sc + NaOH [ Sc(OH)6 ]-3 + H2

• The oxides and Hydroxides form salts with acids Y(OH)3 and La(OH)3 react with CO2

GENERAL PROPERTIES OF

SCANDIUM GROUP

• Like other groups, the members of this family show patterns in their electron configurations, especially the outermost shells, resulting in trends in chemical behavior. However, lutetium is an exception, since its last electron is transferred to the 7p1/2 subshell due to relativistic effect .

• Most of the chemistry has been observed only for the first three members of the group :

1. Elements of the group (scandium, yttrium, lutetium) are reactive metals with high melting points (1541 °C, 1526 °C, 1652 °C respectively).

2. They are usually oxidized to the +3 oxidation state, even through scandium, yttrium and lanthanum can form lower oxidation states. The reactivity of the elements, especially yttrium, is not always obvious due to the formation of a stable oxide layer, which prevents further reactions. Scandium(III) oxide , yttrium(III) oxide ,lanthanum(III) oxide and lutetium(III) oxide are white high-temperature-melting solids. Yttrium(III) oxide and lutetium(III) oxide exhibit weak basic character, but scandium(III) oxide is amphoteric . lutetium (III) oxide is strongly basic

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Elements that show tripositive ions with electronic configuration of a noble gas (scandium, yttrium, lutetium, Lawrencium show a clear trend in their physical properties, such as hardness. At the same time, if group 3 is continued with lutetium and lawrencium, several trends are broken. For example:• scandium and yttrium are both soft metals. lutetium is soft as well• all these elements have their outermost electrons quite far from the

nucleus compared to the nuclei charges. Due to the lanthanide contraction, lutetium, the last in the lanthanide series, has a significantly smaller atomic radius and a higher nucleus charge, thus making the extraction of the electrons from the atom to form metallic bonding more difficult, and thus making the metal harder. However, lutetium suits the previous elements better in several other properties, such as melting and boiling points .

• Very little is known about lawrencium ( Ac series ) , and none of its physical properties have been confirmed.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

• With Halogens ( always forming MX3 )

• Forming carbides ScC2 C2H2 + ScO.OH

CHEMICAL REACTION

• It’s difficult to extract the metal from their compounds because their melting point are high

• Their oxides are strong and stable • The metals are obtained by reaction of the chlorides or fluorides with Ca at 1000oC• The most available element in group 3 is yttrium, with annual production of

8,900 tones in 2010. Yttrium is mostly produced as oxide, by a single country, China (99%). Lutetium and scandium are also mostly obtained as oxides, and their annual production by 2001 was about 10 and 2 tones , respectively .

• Group 3 elements are mined only as a byproduct from the extraction of other elements. The metallic elements are extremely rare;

• the production of metallic yttrium is about a few tones, and that of scandium is in the order of 10 kg per year;

• production of lutetium is not calculated, but it is certainly small. The elements, after purification from other rare earth metals, are isolated as oxides;

• the oxides are converted to fluorides during reactions with hydrofluoric acid. The resulting fluorides are reduced with alkaline earth metals or alloys of the metals; metallic calcium is used most frequently. For example:

Sc2O3 + 3 HF → 2 ScF3 + 3 H2O2 ScF3 + 3 Ca → 3 CaF2 + 2 Sc

EXTRACTION