Group 3 element

A Group 3 element is an element in periodic table group 3 (IUPAC style) in the periodic table, which consists of:

• scandium (21)

• yttrium (39)

• lanthanum (57) - lutetium (71)

• actinium (89) - lawrencium (103)

All of these elements are classed in Group 3 because their outer shell holds three electrons. Scandium, yttrium, and the lanthanides (except promethium) can all be found naturally, albeit at very low levels in the Earth's crust, and are collectively called rare-earth metals. Promethium (61) and neptunium (93) through lawrencium can only be produced in the laboratory and have not been found in nature.

Color coding for these atomic numbers: At room temperature, all are solid; red indicates item is synthetic and does not occur naturally.

External link

http://www.iupac.org/reports/periodic_table/index.html