Yellow-white metal which forms a multitude of colors as is slowly oxidizes m.p. 1541 ºC; 2806 ºF b.p. 2831 ºC; 5128 ºF density 2.989 g/cc (25 ºC); 186.597 pound/cubic foot	memory peg
	1876 Lars Fredrick Nilson, Sweden
	Scandia = Scandinavia (Latin)

On the basis of his Periodic System Mendeleyev predicted the existence of ekaboron between calcium and titanium. The metal was discovered by the Swedish chemist Lars Fredrick Nilson (1840-1899), a student of Berzelius, in 1876.

In 1879 he split Marignac's ytterbia (cf. Yttrium) into two new earth, pure ytterbia and a new element that he found matched Mendeleyevґs ekaboron. In 1879/80 he published his findings (note).

Nilson explained the naming of the element thus: "For the element thus characterized I propose the name «scandium», which will bring to mind its presence in gadolinite or euxenite, minerals that have so far been found only in the Scandinavian Peninsula."

Further reading:

• Mary Elvira Weeks, Discovery of the Elements, comp. rev. by Heny M. Leicester (Easton, Pa.: Journal of Chemical Education, 1968), pp.649-655 & 667-699.
• Seltene Erden. Gmelins Handbuch der anorganische Chemie, 8. Aufl.; System-Nummer 39 (1938).
• Lauri Niinistö, "Discovery and Separation of Rare Earths". In Rare Earths, ed. Regino Sáez Puche & Paul A. Caro, 25-42. Madrid: Editorial Complutense, 1997.