Yttrium- Moderately Hard Metallic Element

Yttrium is a moderately hard metallic element with a high melting point. It is found in nature in mineral ores such as godolinite euxite, and xenotime.

Yttrium is combined with other metals to make alloys useful in nuclear power plants, and it is used in color television tubes. In medicine, radioactive yttrium isotopes are used for cancer treatment. It is also used in optical and electronic equipment.

Yttrium was first found by J. Gadoiln in 1794, in ytterby, Sweden, but was not isolated in pure form until almost 50 years later.