Group 3 element

The Group 3 elements are periodic table.

IUPAC has not recommended a specific format for the periodic table, so different conventions are permitted and are often used for group 3. The following transition metals are always considered members of group 3:

• scandium (Sc)
• yttrium (Y)

When defining the remainder of group 3, four different conventions may be encountered. (See group number of lanthanides and actinides):

• Some tables [1] include d-block-like behavior.

• Some tables [2] include Periodic table (extended).)

Some tables [3] refer to all lanthanides and actinides by a marker in group 3. A third and fourth alternative are suggested by this arrangement:

• The third alternative is to regard all 30 trivalent metals, all have a closely related chemistry, and all show many similarities to Sc and Y.

• The fourth alternative is to include none of the lanthanides and actinides in group 3. The lanthanides possess additional properties characteristic of their partially-filled f orbitals which are not common to Sc and Y. Furthermore, the actinides show a much wider variety of chemistry (for instance, in range of oxidation states) within their series than the lanthanides, and comparisons to Sc and Y are even less useful.

Occurrence

Scandium, yttrium, and the d-block metals, but often harder to extract from their ores.

Biological chemistry

Group 3 elements are generally hard metals with low aqueous solubility, and have low availability to the biosphere. No group 3 has any documented biological role in living organisms. The radioactivity of the actinides generally makes them highly toxic to living cells.

Notes