scandium
noun
scan·di·um
ˈskan-dē-əm 
: a silvery-white metallic element found widely especially in association with rare earth elements and used especially in alloys and in high-intensity electric lamps see Chemical Elements Table
Examples of scandium in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Critical minerals that aren’t being mined – yet Geologists have identified potentially significant volumes in Ukraine of three other types of critical minerals important for energy, military and other uses: lithium, rare earth metals and scandium.
—
Scott L. Montgomery, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2025
For example, scandium, which is often used in military applications, is priced at over $270 for a single gram.
—Jeffrey Weng, National Review, 20 Dec. 2024
Lead is toxic; scandium is prohibitively expensive; tantalum is a conflict material in Central Africa and, Defay says, best avoided.
—IEEE Spectrum, 29 Nov. 2023
Estimates today suggest the Earth's crust is about 0.002% lithium, ranking it between such elements as scandium and niobium - not exactly everyday elements.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 20 Sep. 2023
Three of those elements—ytterbium, erbium, and terbium—were simply given additional variants on the name of Ytterby, while the other three were named holmium (for Stockholm), scandium, and thulium (both from the Latin for Scandinavia), in the nationalistic fashion then in favor.
—Hugh Aldersey-Williams, Discover Magazine, 21 Sep. 2011
With fantastical names like lanthanides, scandium and yttrium, rare-earth elements play a crucial role in renewable-energy technology, which may be our best hope for avoiding catastrophic global warming.
—Ron Charles, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2023
China is the world’s main producer and processor of scandium and rare earths.
—Dionne Searcey Arin Yoon, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2023
The tenor of these quiet flatlands, where deer bounce across gravel roads and neon sunsets scream across the long horizon, would change dramatically if mining for metals like niobium, scandium, titanium and rare earths begins.
—Dionne Searcey Arin Yoon, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2023
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Scott L. Montgomery, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2025
For example, scandium, which is often used in military applications, is priced at over $270 for a single gram.
—Jeffrey Weng, National Review, 20 Dec. 2024
Lead is toxic; scandium is prohibitively expensive; tantalum is a conflict material in Central Africa and, Defay says, best avoided.
—IEEE Spectrum, 29 Nov. 2023
Estimates today suggest the Earth's crust is about 0.002% lithium, ranking it between such elements as scandium and niobium - not exactly everyday elements.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 20 Sep. 2023
Three of those elements—ytterbium, erbium, and terbium—were simply given additional variants on the name of Ytterby, while the other three were named holmium (for Stockholm), scandium, and thulium (both from the Latin for Scandinavia), in the nationalistic fashion then in favor.
—Hugh Aldersey-Williams, Discover Magazine, 21 Sep. 2011
With fantastical names like lanthanides, scandium and yttrium, rare-earth elements play a crucial role in renewable-energy technology, which may be our best hope for avoiding catastrophic global warming.
—Ron Charles, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2023
China is the world’s main producer and processor of scandium and rare earths.
—Dionne Searcey Arin Yoon, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2023
The tenor of these quiet flatlands, where deer bounce across gravel roads and neon sunsets scream across the long horizon, would change dramatically if mining for metals like niobium, scandium, titanium and rare earths begins.
—Dionne Searcey Arin Yoon, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Scandium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scandium. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scandium
noun
scan·di·um
ˈskan-dē-əm
: a silvery white metallic element found together with other rare elements see element
Medical Definition
scandium
noun
scan·di·um
ˈskan-dē-əm
: a white trivalent metallic element found in association with rare earth elements
—symbol Sc
see Chemical Elements Table
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