Yttrium - 39Y: reactions of elements
Reaction of yttrium with air
Yttrium metal tarnishes slowly in air and burns readily to form yttrium (III) oxide, Y2O3.
4Y + 3O2 → 2Y2O3
Reaction of yttrium with water
When finely divided, or heated, yttrium metal dissolves in water to form solutions containing the aquated Y(III) ion together with hydrogen gas, H2.
2Y(s) + 6H2O(aq) → 2Y3+(aq) + 6OH-(aq) + 3H2(g)
Reaction of yttrium with the halogens
Yttrium is very reactive towards the halogens fluorine, F2, chlorine, Cl2 bromine, Br2, and iodine, I2, and burns to form the trihalides yttrium(III) fluoride, YF3 , yttrium(III) chloride, YCl3, yttrium(III) bromide, YBr3, and yttrium(III) iodide, YI3 respectively.
2Y(s) + 3F2(g) → 2YF3(s)
2Y(s) + 3Cl2(g) → 2YCl3(s)
2Y(s) + 3Br2(g) → 2YBr3(s)
2Y(s) + 3I2(g) → 2YI3(s)
Reaction of yttrium with acids
Yttrium metal dissolves readily in dilute hydrochloric acid to form solutions containing the aquated Y(III) ion together with hydrogen gas, H2.
2Y(s) + 6HCl(aq) → 2Y3+(aq) + 6Cl-(aq) + 3H2(g)