Yttrium:
A
Rare
but
Important
Element
Yttrium
is
a
rare
earth
metal
that
was
first
discovered
in
Sweden
in
1787.
It
is
named
after
the
village
of
Ytterby,
where
many
rare
earth
minerals
were
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Yttrium
is
a
silvery-white
metal
that
is
relatively
soft
and
ductile.
One
of
the
main
uses
of
yttrium
is
in
the
production
of
phosphors
used
in
television
sets
and
other
electronic
displays.
Yttrium
oxide
is
added
to
these
phosphors
to
enhance
their
brightness
and
color.
Yttrium
is
also
used
to
make
lasers,
which
have
applications
in
surgery,
telecommunications,
and
defense.
Another
important
application
of
yttrium
is
in
the
production
of
superconductors.
Yttrium
barium
copper
oxide
(YBaCuO)
is
a
high-temperature
superconductor
that
can
conduct
electricity
with
zero
resistance
at
temperatures
as
high
as
-181°C.
This
property
makes
YBaCuO
ideal
for
use
in
magnetic
resonance
imaging
(MRI)
machines
and
other
high-tech
applications.
In
addition
to
its
industrial
applications,
yttrium
has
some
important
medical
uses
as
well.
Yttrium-90
is
a
radioactive
isotope
of
yttrium
that
is
used
in
cancer
treatment.
It
can
be
injected
into
the
body,
where
it
travels
to
the
site
of
the
tumor
and
delivers
a
dose
of
radiation
directly
to
the
cancer
cells.
Despite
its
many
applications,
yttrium
is
a
relatively
rare
element,
with
an
abundance
in
the
Earth's
crust
of
only
around
33
parts
per
million.
Most
of
the
world's
yttrium
is
mined
in
China,
although
significant
deposits
can
also
be
found
in
Russia,
the
United
States,
Australia,
and
Brazil.
In
conclusion,
yttrium
may
not
be
a
well-known
element,
but
its
importance
cannot
be
overstated.
From
enhancing
electronic
displays
to
powering
superconductors
and
fighting
cancer,
yttrium
has
a
wide
range
of
applications
that
make
it
a
valuable
and
highly
sought-after
resource.