Yttrium occurs in nearly all of the rare-earth minerals. Analysis of lunar rock samples obtained during the Apollo missions show a relatively high yttrium content. Wohler obtained the impure element in 1828 by reduction of the anhydrous chloride with potassium. The metal is now produced commercially by reduction of the fluoride with calcium metal. It can also be prepared by other techniques.
Yttrium has a silver-metallic luster and is relatively stable in air.
Turnings of the metal, however, ignite in air if their temperature exceeds 400 o C, and finely divided yttrium is very unstable in air. Yttrium oxide is one of the most important compounds of yttrium and accounts for the largest use. It is widely used in making YVO 4 europium, and Y 2 O 3 europium phosphors to give the red color in color television tubes. Many hundreds of thousands of pounds are now used in this application. Yttrium iron garnet is also exceptionally efficient as both a transmitter and transducer of acoustic energy.