Yttrium Sentiment Dashboard

Description: Yttrium is a chemical element with symbol Y and atomic number 39. It is a silvery-metallic transition metal chemically similar to the lanthanides and has been classified as a 'rare-earth element'. Yttrium is almost always found in combination with lanthanide elements in rare-earth minerals, and is never found in nature as a free element. The element was discovered by Johan Gadolin in 1794 and named after the village of Ytterby in Sweden. Yttrium is used in the production of phosphors for color television tubes, LEDs, and fluorescent lamps. It is also used in lasers, superconductors, and as a catalyst in ethylene polymerization. Yttrium oxide (Y2O3) is used to make yttrium iron garnets (YIG) for microwave filters and yttrium aluminum garnets (YAG) for lasers. Yttrium is also a key component in high-temperature superconductors, such as YBCO (yttrium barium copper oxide). The element has no known biological role, and exposure to yttrium compounds can cause lung disease in humans.

Established / Launched: 1794

Founder / Issuer: Johan Gadolin

Sector / Category: Materials