A silvery-grey metallic element belonging to group 3 (formerly IIIA) of the periodic table; a.n. 39; r.a.m. 88.905; r.d. 4.469 (20°C); m.p. 1522°C; b.p. 3338°C. It occurs in uranium ores and in lanthanoid ores, from which it can be extracted by an ion exchange process. The natural isotope is yttrium-89, and there are 14 known artificial isotopes. The metal is used in superconducting alloys and in alloys for strong permanent magnets (in both cases, with cobalt). The oxide (Y2O3) is used in colour-television phosphors, neodymium-doped lasers, and microwave components. Chemically it resembles the lanthanoids, forming ionic compounds containing Y3+ ions. The metal is stable in air below 400°C. It was discovered in 1794 by Johan Gadolin (1760–1852).
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