Element 39 · Yttrium (Y)

Yttrium Bohr model: diagram and electrons per shell

The yttrium Bohr model shows a yttrium atom (Y) as a small nucleus with its electrons circling it in 5 shells: 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 9 in shell N and 2 in shell O. This page has a rotating 3D yttrium Bohr model, a flat diagram, a table of the electrons in each shell and the steps to draw it yourself.

Rotate the yttrium Bohr model in 3D

Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom.

This is a Bohr model of yttrium (Y), a simplified picture of a single yttrium atom. Its nucleus holds 39 protons, and a neutral yttrium atom has 39 electrons, arranged around it in 5 shells (2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 9 in shell N and 2 in shell O).

Y K · 21s² L · 82s² 2p⁶ M · 183s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ N · 94s² 4p⁶ 4d¹ O · 25s²

Yttrium Bohr model diagram

Bohr model diagram of yttrium: a nucleus of 39 protons with 39 electrons on 5 shells, 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 9 in shell N and 2 in shell O, each ring labelled with its shell letter. — The yttrium Bohr model drawn flat: each ring is a shell, labelled with its letter, and every dot is an electron (2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 9 in shell N and 2 in shell O).

Yttrium electrons per shell

A neutral yttrium atom has 39 electrons, one for each of its 39 protons. They fill the shells from the nucleus outwards: 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 9 in shell N and 2 in shell O.

Electrons in each shell of the yttrium Bohr model
Shell	Shell number (n)	Electrons	Most it can hold (2n²)	Subshells
K	1	2	2	1s²
L	2	8	8	2s² 2p⁶
M	3	18	18	3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰
N	4	9	32	4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹
O	5	2	50	5s²

How the yttrium Bohr model builds up, shell by shell

Watch the yttrium Bohr model come together: the nucleus first, then each shell in turn, from the innermost outwards, with its electrons joining the ring. The legend names every shell and counts its electrons, so you can read off the arrangement (2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 9 in shell N and 2 in shell O) as it forms.

Animation of the yttrium Bohr model being built: a nucleus of 39 protons appears first, then each shell grows in around it and takes its electrons, giving 39 electrons on 5 shells (2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 9 in shell N and 2 in shell O). — The yttrium Bohr model built up in six seconds: the nucleus first, then each shell with its electrons, ending with 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 9 in shell N and 2 in shell O. Protons are red, neutrons yellow and electrons blue.

How to draw the yttrium Bohr model

Find the atomic number. Yttrium has atomic number 39, so a neutral atom has 39 protons and 39 electrons.
Draw the nucleus. Put a circle in the centre and write Y in it. The 39 protons sit there with the neutrons.
Draw the shells. Sketch 5 shells as rings around the nucleus. A shell holds at most 2n² electrons: 2 in the first, 8 in the second, 18 in the third and 32 in the fourth.
Place the electrons. Fill from the inside out: 2 in shell K, 8 in shell L, 18 in shell M, 9 in shell N and 2 in shell O.
Check the total. 2 + 8 + 18 + 9 + 2 = 39, the atomic number, so every electron is accounted for.

Atomic data for the yttrium Bohr model

The numbers behind the yttrium Bohr model, grouped by topic. Radii are in picometres (pm) and energies in kilojoules per mole (kJ/mol).

Identity

Symbol: Y
Atomic number: 39
Atomic mass: 88.9058 u
Family: Transition Metals
Position: group 3, period 5
Block: d-block

Electron configuration

Full: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹
Shorthand: [Kr] 4d¹ 5s²
Electrons per shell: 2, 8, 18, 9, 2
Outer-shell electrons: 2 in shell O

Ionisation energies

I₁: 600
I₂: 1180
I₃: 1980
I₄: 5847
I₅: 7430
I₆: 8970
I₇: 11190
I₈: 12450

Energy to remove each electron in turn (kJ/mol). A sharp jump means the next electron comes from an inner shell.

Atomic radii

Calculated (pm): 212
Empirical (pm): 180
Covalent (pm): 163

Electronegativity and electron affinity

Electronegativity (Pauling): 1.22
Electron affinity (kJ/mol): 29.6

Oxidation states

Charges the element commonly takes in compounds.

Physical properties, abundance and history of yttrium

Bulk properties of yttrium, how common it is, who discovered it and some of its compounds.

Physical properties

Phase at room conditions: Solid
Appearance: Silvery white
Melting point: 1525.85°C (1799 K)
Boiling point: 2929.85°C (3203 K)
Density: 4.472 g/cm³
Specific heat (J/g·K): 0.298
Molar heat capacity (J/mol·K): 26.53
Heat of fusion (kJ/mol): 11.5
Heat of vaporisation (kJ/mol): 367

Abundance

Earth's crust (mg/kg): 33
Oceans (mg/L): 0

Discovery

Discovered by: Johan Gadolin
Year: 1794

Common compounds

Yttrium Y
Yttrium bromide Br3Y
Barium copper yttrium oxide BaCuH2OY
Yttrium fluoride F3Y
Yttrium nitrate N3O9Y
Yttrium arsenide AsY
Yttrium Iodide I3Y
Yttrium-90 Y

Compounds listed in the PubChem database.

Main isotopes of yttrium

Isotopes of yttrium share the same 39 protons but differ in neutrons. Natural isotopes come first, then the longest-lived others.

Main isotopes of yttrium: mass number, abundance, half-life and decay
Mass number	Natural abundance	Half-life	Decay
86	–	14.74 h	β⁺
87	–	79.8 h	β⁺
88	–	106.629 d	β⁺
89	100 %	stable	–
90	–	64.05 h	β⁻
91	–	58.51 d	β⁻

α = alpha decay, β⁻ = beta-minus, β⁺ = beta-plus, EC = electron capture, SF = spontaneous fission, p / n = proton / neutron emission.

More about yttrium

Yttrium on the periodic table – properties, isotopes, uses and the full yttrium page.
Transition Metals – all transition metal elements and their trends.
Bohr model of every element – the Bohr model of all 118 elements.