Scandium is a Block D, Group 3, Period 4 element. The number of electrons in each of Scandium's shells is 2, 8, 9, 2 and its electronic configuration is [Ar] 3d¹ 4s². In its elemental form scandium's CAS number is 7440-20-2. The scandium atom has a radius of 160.6.pm and it's Van der Waals radius is 200.pm. Scandium is mildly toxic. Scandium is a metal that has many of the characteristics of the rare earth elements, particularly yttrium. It is a light material with a higher melting point than aluminum giving uses in aerospace and most recently, in racing bicycles and golf clubs. Doping zirconium oxide with scandium oxide produces a low temperature electrolyte in solid oxide fuel cells. Scandium information, including Technical Data, Safety Data and its high purity properties, research, applications and other useful facts are discussed here. Scientific facts such as the atomic structure, ionization energy, abundance on Earth, conductivity and thermal properties are included. Scandium was first discovered by Lars Nilson in 1879. The origin of the name, Scandium, comes from the Latin word 'Scandia' meaning Scandinavia. See Scandium research below.