Page 77 - The Periodic Table Book

Uses FRIEDRICH WÖHLER

In 1828, the
German chemist
Friedrich Wöhler
became the first
person to purify
yttrium. He did so
by extracting it from
Laser
This bulb the compound
contains LED lamp yttrium chloride. Transition Metals
yttrium He was also the
compounds first person to
that enable it extract the metals
to produce a This laser is
warmer, more powered using beryllium and
yellow glow. crystals composed titanium from
of yttrium and their ores.
silicon, and can
cut through metal.

Shock-proof lenses are
made from yttrium-infused
glass to make them tough.

Yttrium gas mantle Digital camera lens

Yttrium-90

This radioactive form
of yttrium is used to treat
cancers in the body.

This fabric mantle holds This superconductor
the hot flame inside.
produces a magnetic
A small magnet floats field that repels the
over the superconductor. magnet above it.
NASA
spacecraft use
yttrium lasers to
map the surface

of asteroids
in space.

Yttrium superconductor

LED lamps, yttrium converts blue light to other form of this element has medical applications.
colours. Many lasers use an artificial mixture of Yttrium is added to the glass in a camera lens
yttrium and aluminium inside a silicon-rich to make it tough. Yttrium compounds are also
crystal called garnet. Powerful yttrium lasers are used in superconductors – materials that
used for treating some skin infections, as well as conduct electricity easily when cooled to very
by dentists during tooth surgery. A radioactive low temperatures. 75

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