Group 3 element facts for kids

A group 3 element is a special collection of elements in the periodic table. The periodic table is like a big chart that organizes all the known chemical elements. There are 18 such groups in total.

The elements that belong to Group 3 are:

• Scandium (Sc)
• Yttrium (Y)
• Lutetium (Lu) or Lanthanum (La)
• Lawrencium (Lr) or Actinium (Ac)

The first two elements, scandium and yttrium, are definitely part of this group. However, there's a bit of a puzzle about the last two. Scientists are still discussing whether lutetium and lawrencium should be in Group 3, or if it should be lanthanum and actinium instead. This is because of how the lanthanide and actinide series of elements fit into the periodic table.

What Are Group 3 Elements?

Group 3 elements are all metals. They are known for being quite reactive, meaning they easily combine with other elements. These elements are also sometimes called "transition metals," which is a larger group of elements found in the middle of the periodic table.

The Elements of Group 3

Let's take a closer look at the elements in this group.

Scandium

Scandium metal looks shiny and silver.

Scandium is a soft, silvery-white metal. It's quite light and strong. Scandium is not very common on Earth. It is often used in small amounts to make very strong and light alloys, especially for things like aerospace parts or sports equipment.

Yttrium

Yttrium is a silvery metal.

Yttrium is another silvery metal. It's a bit more common than scandium. Yttrium is used in many different technologies. For example, it helps make the red color in old television screens (CRT TVs) and is used in some special lasers. It can also be found in some superconductors, which are materials that can carry electricity without any loss.

The Lanthanides and Actinides

The debate about lutetium/lanthanum and lawrencium/actinium comes from two special rows of elements. These are the lanthanides and actinides. They are usually shown as separate rows at the bottom of the periodic table.

• The lanthanides are 15 metallic chemical elements. They are often called "rare earth elements."
• The actinides are 15 radioactive metallic chemical elements. They are all radioactive, meaning they give off energy as they decay.

Scientists disagree on whether the first element of the lanthanide series (lanthanum) or the last (lutetium) should be in Group 3. The same question applies to the actinide series with actinium and lawrencium.

Images for kids

• 

  Lanthanum is a soft, silvery-white metal.

• 

  Monazite, a mineral that contains lutetium.

See also

In Spanish: Elementos del grupo 3 para niños