Yttrium - Periodic Table of Videos

Summary

In this video, the discovery and properties of yttrium are explored, including its isolation as a metal in the 1840s by Friedrich Wöhler. The video features a rare sample of yttrium chloride and demonstrates the creation of a colored yttrium salt. It highlights yttrium's role in high-temperature superconductors, showcasing a levitating magnet and a magnetic train demonstration. Also discussed is yttrium's use in creating 'YInMn Blue,' a durable blue pigment not seen for 200 years, emphasizing yttrium's diverse applications in modern science.

Takeaways

• 🔬 Yttrium was discovered in a Swedish mine in Italy.
• 🧪 A compound sample given by its discoverer is used for demonstrations.
• 🌍 Yttrium, along with three other elements, originates from the Itabee quarry.
• 🔍 Yttrium was first isolated as an oxide in the 18th century and as a metal in the 1840s.
• 📜 Friedrich Wöhler published the discovery of metallic beryllium and yttrium in the same paper.
• ⚗️ Yttrium forms various salts, mostly colorless, with yttrium chromate being a notable yellow salt.
• 🔥 Yttrium filings burn brightly in a Bunsen burner flame, creating impressive sparks.
• 🧲 Yttrium is used in high-temperature superconductors that lose electrical resistance above liquid nitrogen temperature.
• 🚂 A demonstration showed a levitating wagon on a magnetic track using yttrium-based superconductors.
• 🔵 The discovery of a new blue pigment, Yin Min Blue, made from yttrium, indium, and manganese, excited the scientific community.

Q & A

What element is the main focus of the video script?

The main focus of the video script is Yttrium (Y).

Who discovered Yttrium and where was it discovered?

Yttrium was discovered in a Swedish mine in Italy.

What unique aspect of the Yttrium sample discussed in the script is mentioned?

The unique aspect mentioned is that the Yttrium sample was given to the creators of the video by the person who discovered the compound.

When was Yttrium first discovered as an oxide and when as a metal?

Yttrium was first discovered as an oxide at the end of the 18th century and was isolated as a metal in the 1840s.

Who isolated Yttrium as a metal and in which publication?

German chemist Friedrich Wöhler isolated Yttrium as a metal and published his findings in a paper where he also described the discovery of metallic Beryllium.

What property of Yttrium makes it suitable for use in high-temperature superconductors?

Yttrium, when combined with other elements like barium, copper, and oxygen, forms a compound that loses all its electrical resistance at temperatures above 77 Kelvin, making it a high-temperature superconductor.

What is the Meissner effect demonstrated in the script?

The Meissner effect is demonstrated when a magnet is repelled and levitates above a high-temperature superconductor due to its ability to expel magnetic fields.