Yttrium
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Yttrium is a chemical element, having the chemical symbol Y. Its atomic number (the number of protons) is 39. It has a standard atomic weight of 88.9059 g•mol −1 and is a solid in its elemental form.
Yttrium is considered to be a member of the "Transition metal" class of element. At a pressure of 101.325 kPa, it has a boiling point of 3,345 °C and a melting point of 1,522 °C.
It has some applications in nuclear power reactors, especially those whose weight must be minimized.[1] Yttrium is a component of the semiconductor laser material, YAG (yttrium aluminum garnet).
References
- ↑ Restricted Data Declassification Decisions, 1946 to the Present, U.S. Department of Energy, 1 January 2002, RDD-8, pp. 34 and 133