a silvery metallic element occurring in monazite and gadolinite and used in various alloys, in lasers, and as a catalyst. Symbol: Y; atomic no: 39; atomic wt: 88.90585; valency: 3; relative density: 4.469; melting pt: 1522°C; boiling pt: 3338°C
Derived forms
yttric (ˈyttric)
adjective
Word origin
C19: New Latin; see ytterbia
yttrium in American English
(ˈɪtriəm)
noun
a rare, trivalent, silvery, metallic chemical element found in combination in gadolinite, monazitesand, samarskite, etc.: used in color TV tubes, alloys, etc.: symbol, Y; at. no., 39
Word origin
ModL < yttria + -ium: name proposed (1822) before isolation of the element by Mosander (see erbium) in 1843