Chemical reactions of the elements

scandium symbol icon

Reaction of scandium with air

Scandium metal tarnishes in air and burns readily to form scandium (III) oxide, Sc2O3.

4Sc + 3O2 → 2Sc2O3

Reaction of scandium with water

When finely divided, or heated, scandium metal dissolves in water to form solutions containing the aquated Sc(III) ion together with hydrogen gas, H2.

2Sc(s) + 6H2O(aq) → 2Sc3+(aq) + 6OH-(aq) + 3H2(g)

Reaction of scandium with the halogens

Scandium is very reactive towards the halogens fluorine, F2, chlorine, Cl2 bromine, Br2, and iodine, I2, and burns to form the trihalides scandium(III) fluoride, ScF3 , scandium(III) chloride, ScCl3, scandium(III) bromide, ScBr3, and scandium(III) iodide, ScI3 respectively.

2Sc(s) + 3F2(g) → 2ScF3(s)

2Sc(s) + 3Cl2(g) → 2ScCl3(s)

2Sc(s) + 3Br2(g) → 2ScBr3(s)

2Sc(s) + 3I2(g) → 2ScI3(s)

Reaction of scandium with acids

Scandium metal dissolves readily in dilute hydrochloric acid to form solutions containing the aquated Sc(III) ion together with hydrogen gas, H2.

2Sc(s) + 6HCl(aq) → 2Sc3+(aq) + 6Cl-(aq) + 3H2(g)

Reaction of scandium with bases

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