Yttrium - ₃₉Y: reactions of elements

Reaction of yttrium with air

Yttrium metal tarnishes slowly in air and burns readily to form yttrium (III) oxide, Y₂O₃.

4Y + 3O₂ → 2Y₂O₃

Reaction of yttrium with water

When finely divided, or heated, yttrium metal dissolves in water to form solutions containing the aquated Y(III) ion together with hydrogen gas, H₂.

2Y(s) + 6H₂O(aq) → 2Y³⁺(aq) + 6OH^-(aq) + 3H₂(g)

Reaction of yttrium with the halogens

Yttrium is very reactive towards the halogens fluorine, F₂, chlorine, Cl₂ bromine, Br₂, and iodine, I₂, and burns to form the trihalides yttrium(III) fluoride, YF₃ , yttrium(III) chloride, YCl₃, yttrium(III) bromide, YBr₃, and yttrium(III) iodide, YI₃ respectively.

2Y(s) + 3F₂(g) → 2YF₃(s)

2Y(s) + 3Cl₂(g) → 2YCl₃(s)

2Y(s) + 3Br₂(g) → 2YBr₃(s)

2Y(s) + 3I₂(g) → 2YI₃(s)

Reaction of yttrium with acids

Yttrium metal dissolves readily in dilute hydrochloric acid to form solutions containing the aquated Y(III) ion together with hydrogen gas, H₂.

2Y(s) + 6HCl(aq) → 2Y³⁺(aq) + 6Cl^-(aq) + 3H₂(g)

Reaction of yttrium with bases