39YYttrium88.905842[Kr] 4d¹ 5s²
transition metal

Yttrium

Yttrium is a chemical element with symbol Y and atomic number 39. It is a silvery-metallic transition metal chemically similar to the lanthanides and it has often been classified as a "rare earth element". Yttrium is almost always found combined with the lanthanides in rare earth minerals and is never found in nature as a free element.

Electronic structure

A stylized shell model. Electrons are quantum objects, not particles following these literal paths. Sizes and motion are illustrative.

Electrons by shell
Electron configuration
4d1
5s2

36 is the [Kr] core total across four shells.

Properties

At a glance

Atomic number
39
Atomic mass
88.905842 u
Phase
Solid
Density
4.472 g/cm³
Melting point
1,799 K
Boiling point
3,203 K
First ionization energy
600 kJ/mol
Electronegativity
1.22
Electron affinity
29.6 kJ/mol
Molar heat capacity
26.53 J/(mol·K)
Period
5
Appearance
silvery white

Conditions and isotopes affect measured properties. Some properties of short-lived elements are predicted. Electronegativity uses the Pauling scale.

Keep exploring

Explore the stories, imagery, and reference data in more depth. Properties with no value in the reference are marked unavailable.