{
  "spore": "profile",
  "id": "scandium-oxide",
  "spore_version": "0.2",
  "family": "oxide-ceramics",
  "name": "Scandium oxide (Sc2O3)",
  "abbreviation": "Sc2O3",
  "role": "rare-earth oxide for optical coatings, laser ceramics and scandium supply",
  "category": "ceramics",
  "type": "oxides",
  "summary": "Scandium(III) oxide (Sc2O3, CAS 12060-08-1) is a white oxide with a density of 3.86 g/cm3 (Wikipedia infobox). Its melting point is printed as 2,485 °C in Wikipedia and the ProChem safety data sheet, but as 2430 °C in the Ereztech safety data sheet, so both values are kept. Wikipedia calls it the primary form of refined scandium, and the USGS lists scandium on its 2025 critical-mineral list.\n",
  "best_for": "Thin-film optical coatings and high-melting oxide research (Lorad lists thin film coatings as its market focus)",
  "weakest_at": "Mechanical data are missing from every source we hold: no hardness, strength, toughness or thermal-conductivity figure was recorded",
  "identity": {
    "formula": "Sc2O3",
    "cas": "12060-08-1",
    "space_group": "Ia3 (No. 206)",
    "designations": [],
    "source": "wiki-sc2o3",
    "where": "Infobox: crystal structure bixbyite, space group Ia3 (No. 206), CAS Number 12060-08-1, EC number 235-042-0"
  },
  "tags": {
    "environments": [],
    "stresses": [],
    "applications": []
  },
  "properties": [
    {
      "benchmark": "density",
      "label": "Density, reference infobox",
      "value": 3.86,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "g/cm3",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "form": "compound in the infobox",
        "temperature": "not stated"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in the Wikipedia infobox",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "wiki-sc2o3",
      "where": "Infobox, Density row",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Scandium oxide, English Wikipedia article (infobox)",
        "id": "CAS 12060-08-1; EC 235-042-0",
        "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandium_oxide",
        "year": 2026,
        "kind": "web",
        "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikipedia)"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "density",
      "label": "Specific gravity, manufacturer MSDS (2012)",
      "value": 3.86,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "gm/cc",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "basis": "specific gravity, water = 1, as printed",
        "form": "white powder"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in a 2012 manufacturer material safety data sheet",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "sam-msds",
      "where": "Section III, Physical/Chemical Characteristics, Specific Gravity row",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Material Safety Data Sheet, Scandium Oxide, Stanford Advanced Materials (version 2.0)",
        "id": "CAS 12060-08-1; revision date Sep 5, 2012",
        "url": "https://www.sputtertargets.net/Public/pdf/scandium-oxide-msds.pdf",
        "year": 2012,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "supplier document, linked not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "density",
      "label": "Specific gravity, supplier SDS (ProChem)",
      "value": 3.864,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "gm/ml",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "basis": "specific gravity as printed",
        "form": "white powder"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in Section 9 of a supplier safety data sheet",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "prochem-sds",
      "where": "Section 9, Specific gravity row (printed as SPECIFIC GRAVITY 3.864 gm/ml)",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Scandium (III) oxide safety data sheet, ProChem Inc., CAS 12060-08-1",
        "id": "CAS 12060-08-1; date prepared 04/14 as printed",
        "url": "https://prochemonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/3149.ScandiumOxide.pdf",
        "year": 2024,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "supplier document, linked not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "molar_mass",
      "label": "Molar mass, reference infobox",
      "value": 137.91,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "g/mol",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "basis": "molar mass of the compound, formula Sc2O3"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in the Wikipedia infobox, printed as 137.910 g/mol",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "wiki-sc2o3",
      "where": "Infobox, Molar mass row",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Scandium oxide, English Wikipedia article (infobox)",
        "id": "CAS 12060-08-1; EC 235-042-0",
        "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandium_oxide",
        "year": 2026,
        "kind": "web",
        "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikipedia)"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "melting_point",
      "label": "Melting point, reference infobox",
      "value": 2485,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "°C",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "pressure": "not stated",
        "basis": "value printed as the melting point of the compound"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in the Wikipedia infobox, which prints 2,485 °C (4,505 °F; 2,758 K)",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "wiki-sc2o3",
      "where": "Infobox, Melting point row",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Scandium oxide, English Wikipedia article (infobox)",
        "id": "CAS 12060-08-1; EC 235-042-0",
        "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandium_oxide",
        "year": 2026,
        "kind": "web",
        "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikipedia)"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "melting_point",
      "label": "Melting point, supplier SDS (ProChem)",
      "value": 2485,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "°C",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "form": "white powder",
        "pressure": "not stated"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in a supplier safety data sheet, Section 9 Physical and Chemical Properties",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "prochem-sds",
      "where": "Section 9, Melting point row (printed as 2485° C)",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Scandium (III) oxide safety data sheet, ProChem Inc., CAS 12060-08-1",
        "id": "CAS 12060-08-1; date prepared 04/14 as printed",
        "url": "https://prochemonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/3149.ScandiumOxide.pdf",
        "year": 2024,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "supplier document, linked not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "melting_point",
      "label": "Melting point, supplier SDS (Ereztech)",
      "value": 2430,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "°C",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "form": "solid, white powder",
        "pressure": "not stated"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in Section 9 of a 2025 supplier safety data sheet",
      "status": "ground",
      "note": "This value disagrees with the 2485 °C in Wikipedia and the ProChem SDS. Both values are kept, and neither is averaged.",
      "source": "ereztech-sds",
      "where": "Section 9, Melting Point row (printed as 2430 °C (4406 °F))",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Scandium oxide safety data sheet, Ereztech LLC, SC0081, revision 1.00",
        "id": "Ereztech SC0081; CAS 12060-08-1; date of issue 10/6/2025",
        "url": "https://ereztech.com/wp-content/uploads/chemical_sds/SDS-SC0081.pdf",
        "year": 2025,
        "kind": "datasheet",
        "license": "supplier document, linked not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "melting_point",
      "label": "Melting point, nanografi product page",
      "value": 2430,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "°C",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "form": "powder",
        "note": "printed with an approximation sign"
      },
      "method": "Value printed as approximately 2430 °C in the product description table",
      "status": "ground",
      "note": "The page prints this value with an approximation sign, so it is not exact.",
      "source": "nanografi-sc2o3",
      "where": "Product description, Melting point row",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Scandium Oxide (Sc2O3) Powder, Nanografi product page (SKU NG07RE0104)",
        "id": "SKU NG07RE0104",
        "url": "https://shop.nanografi.com/rare-earth-materials/rare-earth-oxide-powder/scandium-oxide-sc2o3-powder/",
        "year": 2026,
        "kind": "web",
        "license": "supplier product page, cited not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "melting_point",
      "label": "Melting point, cited in a 2008 study",
      "value": 2430,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "°C",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "basis": "approximate value (printed as ~2430°C) quoted from an earlier reference"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in the Introduction of a 2008 paper, which cites an earlier source",
      "status": "ground",
      "note": "Approximate, as printed with a tilde.",
      "source": "joam-2008",
      "where": "Section 1 (Introduction), first paragraph",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Judd-Ofelt analysis of the Er3+ (4f11) absorption intensities in Er3+-doped Sc2O3",
        "id": "Journal of Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials, Vol. 10, No. 2, February 2008, p. 359-362",
        "url": "https://joam.inoe.ro/articles/judd-ofelt-analysis-of-the-er3-4f11-absorption-intensities-in-er3-doped-sc2o3/fulltext",
        "year": 2008,
        "kind": "paper",
        "license": "open-access journal (licence not read on the page)"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "refractive_index",
      "label": "Refractive index, bulk (nanografi)",
      "value": 2,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "-",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "basis": "bulk material",
        "wavelength": "300 nm as printed (A = 300 nm)"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in a supplier product description table, written as nH",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "nanografi-sc2o3",
      "where": "Product description table, Refractive index (bulk) row",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Scandium Oxide (Sc2O3) Powder, Nanografi product page (SKU NG07RE0104)",
        "id": "SKU NG07RE0104",
        "url": "https://shop.nanografi.com/rare-earth-materials/rare-earth-oxide-powder/scandium-oxide-sc2o3-powder/",
        "year": 2026,
        "kind": "web",
        "license": "supplier product page, cited not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "band_gap",
      "label": "Band gap",
      "value": 5.7,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "eV",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "basis": "value printed by the supplier; temperature and method not stated"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in a supplier product description table",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "nanografi-sc2o3",
      "where": "Product description table, Bandgap row",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Scandium Oxide (Sc2O3) Powder, Nanografi product page (SKU NG07RE0104)",
        "id": "SKU NG07RE0104",
        "url": "https://shop.nanografi.com/rare-earth-materials/rare-earth-oxide-powder/scandium-oxide-sc2o3-powder/",
        "year": 2026,
        "kind": "web",
        "license": "supplier product page, cited not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "uv_cutoff",
      "label": "UV cut-off wavelength",
      "value": 215,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "nm",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "basis": "value printed by the supplier; method not stated"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in a supplier product description table",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "nanografi-sc2o3",
      "where": "Product description table, UV cut-off row",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Scandium Oxide (Sc2O3) Powder, Nanografi product page (SKU NG07RE0104)",
        "id": "SKU NG07RE0104",
        "url": "https://shop.nanografi.com/rare-earth-materials/rare-earth-oxide-powder/scandium-oxide-sc2o3-powder/",
        "year": 2026,
        "kind": "web",
        "license": "supplier product page, cited not reproduced"
      }
    },
    {
      "benchmark": "lattice_constant",
      "label": "Lattice constant (bixbyite cubic cell)",
      "value": 985,
      "bound": "exact",
      "unit": "pm",
      "scope": "material",
      "conditions": {
        "structure": "bixbyite, space group Ia3 (No. 206)",
        "temperature": "not stated"
      },
      "method": "Value printed in the Wikipedia infobox",
      "status": "ground",
      "source": "wiki-sc2o3",
      "where": "Infobox, Lattice constant row (printed as a = 985 pm)",
      "source_detail": {
        "title": "Scandium oxide, English Wikipedia article (infobox)",
        "id": "CAS 12060-08-1; EC 235-042-0",
        "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandium_oxide",
        "year": 2026,
        "kind": "web",
        "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikipedia)"
      }
    }
  ],
  "corrosion": [
    {
      "environment": "Water",
      "headline": "Scandium oxide is insoluble in water, per Wikipedia.",
      "effect": "The Wikipedia infobox prints insoluble in water with no exposure time or temperature. No corrosion test on the compound was found.",
      "rating": "none",
      "conditions": {
        "basis": "solubility statement, no exposure test"
      },
      "source": "wiki-sc2o3",
      "where": "Infobox, Solubility in water row"
    },
    {
      "environment": "Hot acids",
      "headline": "Scandium oxide dissolves in hot acids with reaction.",
      "effect": "The Wikipedia infobox prints soluble in hot acids (reacts). It gives no acid, concentration or rate, so the severity is unknown.",
      "rating": "unknown",
      "conditions": {
        "basis": "solubility statement, no acid named"
      },
      "source": "wiki-sc2o3",
      "where": "Infobox, Solubility row"
    },
    {
      "environment": "Strong oxidizing agents",
      "headline": "The Ereztech SDS lists strong oxidizing agents as incompatible.",
      "effect": "The SDS lists strong oxidizing agents as incompatible materials and excess heat as a condition to avoid. It gives no reaction products or rates.",
      "rating": "unknown",
      "conditions": {
        "basis": "incompatibility statement in a supplier SDS"
      },
      "source": "ereztech-sds",
      "where": "Section 10, Incompatible Materials and Conditions to Avoid rows"
    }
  ],
  "risks": {
    "hazards": [
      {
        "text": "PubChem reports that scandium oxide is 'Not Classified' for GHS hazard statements and hazard classes (CID 134661).",
        "ghs": [],
        "source": "pubchem-sc2o3",
        "where": "Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification"
      },
      {
        "text": "ProChem SDS: 'Not a dangerous substance according to the GHS'. Eye contact may be a mild to severe irritant; skin contact may cause slight to mild irritation; inhaled powder may irritate the respiratory tract.",
        "ghs": [],
        "source": "prochem-sds",
        "where": "Section 2, Hazards Identification"
      },
      {
        "text": "Ereztech SDS: not considered hazardous under the 2012 OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200). No pictograms and no signal word are required.",
        "ghs": [],
        "source": "ereztech-sds",
        "where": "Section 2, Classification and Hazard Pictograms rows"
      },
      {
        "text": "Stanford Advanced Materials MSDS (2012): may cause irritation of the eyes, skin and inhalation route. Chronic inhalation may cause congestion, coughing, granuloma in lungs and hemoglobinemia.",
        "ghs": [],
        "source": "sam-msds",
        "where": "Section VI, Health Hazard Data"
      }
    ],
    "failure_risks": [],
    "side_effects": [],
    "handling": [
      {
        "text": "Ereztech SDS: store in the original container in a dry, cool and well-ventilated area, away from incompatible materials and food and drink.",
        "source": "ereztech-sds",
        "where": "Section 7, Safe Storage Conditions"
      },
      {
        "text": "Stanford Advanced Materials MSDS: store in a cool, dry area in a tightly sealed container. Vacuum up spills with a HEPA filter, and take care not to raise dust.",
        "source": "sam-msds",
        "where": "Sections VII, Steps to be taken in case material is released or spilled"
      },
      {
        "text": "ProChem SDS: handle in an efficient fume hood. If fine dust forms and ventilation is not available, wear a respirator under a respirator protection program.",
        "source": "prochem-sds",
        "where": "Section 4, Ventilation and Respirator"
      }
    ],
    "mitigations": [
      {
        "text": "ProChem SDS: wear approved safety glasses with side shields, safety goggles or a face shield, and chemical resistant gloves.",
        "source": "prochem-sds",
        "where": "Section 4, Eye Protection and Skin Protection"
      }
    ]
  },
  "uses": [
    {
      "application": "structures",
      "device": "Aerospace alloys containing scandium",
      "example": "The USGS reports that the principal uses for scandium in 2025 were in aerospace alloys and in solid oxide fuel cells for large-scale power generation and backup power systems. The chapter covers scandium overall, not scandium oxide alone.",
      "source": "usgs-mcs2026-scandium",
      "where": "Domestic Production and Use, first paragraph"
    },
    {
      "application": "optics-and-cameras",
      "device": "Thin-film optical coatings (electron-beam evaporation source)",
      "example": "Lorad Chemical lists thin film coatings as the market focus for its scandium oxide and e-beam as the evaporation source.",
      "source": "lorad-sc2o3",
      "where": "Product Specifications section, and Product Description section"
    },
    {
      "application": "optics-and-cameras",
      "device": "Erbium-doped Sc2O3 transparent ceramic (laboratory laser material)",
      "example": "A 2008 study calls cubic sesquioxides, especially scandium oxide, interesting as laser materials because of their very high thermal conductivity. The paper gives a melting point of ~2430°C for Sc2O3, which makes single crystals hard to grow.",
      "source": "joam-2008",
      "where": "Section 1 (Introduction), first column"
    }
  ],
  "supply": [
    {
      "subject": "Scandium (and scandium oxide)",
      "producers": [
        {
          "country": "China",
          "year": 2025
        },
        {
          "country": "Japan",
          "year": 2025
        },
        {
          "country": "Canada",
          "year": 2025
        }
      ],
      "critical_lists": [
        {
          "list": "USGS 2025 List of Critical Minerals (scandium: used to strengthen metal alloys, in fuel cells and in high-intensity lighting)",
          "listed": true
        },
        {
          "list": "EU critical raw materials list, Annex II of Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 (entry (ab) scandium)",
          "listed": true
        }
      ],
      "recycling": "USGS: recycling is None.",
      "substitutes": [
        "USGS: titanium and aluminum high-strength alloys, as well as carbon-fiber materials, may substitute in high-performance scandium-alloy applications. In some applications substitution is not possible."
      ],
      "source": "usgs-mcs2026-scandium",
      "where": "World Mine Production and Reserves (global production about 80 tons and capacity over 90 tons per year in 2025); Events, Trends and Issues (60 tons global consumption in 2025); Recycling; Substitutes; Salient Statistics (2025e price 640 dollars per kilogram for 99.99% powder, 5 to 100 kilogram lots); Import Sources"
    },
    {
      "subject": "Scandium oxide price (market reference)",
      "producers": [],
      "critical_lists": [],
      "recycling": "USGS: recycling is None.",
      "substitutes": [],
      "source": "usgs-mcs2026-scandium",
      "where": "Salient Statistics table, Scandium oxide, powder, 99.99% purity, 5- to 100-kilogram lot size, 2025e: 640 dollars per kilogram"
    }
  ],
  "media": [],
  "documents": [
    {
      "title": "Ereztech safety data sheet, scandium oxide (SC0081), revision 1.00, date of issue 10/6/2025",
      "type": "sds",
      "url": "https://ereztech.com/wp-content/uploads/chemical_sds/SDS-SC0081.pdf",
      "year": 2025
    },
    {
      "title": "ProChem safety data sheet, scandium (III) oxide, CAS 12060-08-1",
      "type": "sds",
      "url": "https://prochemonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/3149.ScandiumOxide.pdf",
      "year": 2024
    },
    {
      "title": "Stanford Advanced Materials material safety data sheet, scandium oxide (revision date Sep 5, 2012)",
      "type": "sds",
      "url": "https://www.sputtertargets.net/Public/pdf/scandium-oxide-msds.pdf",
      "year": 2012
    },
    {
      "title": "USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Scandium",
      "type": "report",
      "url": "https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-scandium.pdf",
      "year": 2026
    },
    {
      "title": "PubChem compound record, scandium oxide (CID 134661)",
      "type": "database",
      "url": "https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/134661/JSON",
      "year": 2026
    },
    {
      "title": "Judd-Ofelt analysis of Er3+ absorption intensities in Er3+-doped Sc2O3, Journal of Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials 10(2), 359-362",
      "type": "paper",
      "url": "https://joam.inoe.ro/articles/judd-ofelt-analysis-of-the-er3-4f11-absorption-intensities-in-er3-doped-sc2o3/fulltext",
      "year": 2008
    }
  ],
  "gaps": [
    "Thermal conductivity not recorded: the only figure seen is printed on the nanografi page with a garbled unit, so it is left out.",
    "The Lorad Chemical product page could not be read by the value checker, so its density, melting point and refractive index are not recorded as values. The page is cited only for the thin-film market focus and the e-beam evaporation source.",
    "Atomic weights of scandium and oxygen were not taken from a fetched source, so the recipe rows carry no atomic_weight.",
    "Crustal abundance of scandium was not found in any fetched source.",
    "No country share percentages are printed by the USGS chapter; China is named as the leading producer, but no shares are recorded.",
    "PubChem's experimental density prints no unit, so it is not recorded as a value.",
    "The cation density reported in the 2008 paper is printed in exponent form and is left out.",
    "Fracture toughness, hardness, flexural strength, electrical resistivity and dielectric data for sintered Sc2O3 were not found in any fetched source.",
    "No failure-mode, ageing or humidity data for Sc2O3 were found, so failure_risks is empty.",
    "No flight, vacuum, radiation or space exposure data were found for scandium oxide.",
    "Route from Sc2O3 into aluminium-scandium alloys was not read in a fetched source, so it is not recorded.",
    "Melting point disagrees across sources: 2485 °C (Wikipedia, ProChem SDS) against 2430 °C (Ereztech SDS; nanografi and a 2008 paper give approximate values). All are kept.",
    "Non-canonical property names used: molar_mass, band_gap, uv_cutoff and lattice_constant are not in spores/property-canon.yaml.",
    "The transmission range printed by Lorad Chemical was not recorded because its two ends carry different units.",
    "No regulatory GHS classification from ECHA was checked; hazard entries rely on PubChem, three supplier documents and a 2012 manufacturer MSDS.",
    "Dissolution rate and acid concentration for hot-acid attack were not found; the rating is unknown."
  ],
  "story": {
    "why": "Scandium(III) oxide (Sc2O3, CAS 12060-08-1) is a white oxide of scandium. Wikipedia says it is the primary form of refined scandium produced by the mining industry. Its melting point is printed as 2,485 °C in the Wikipedia infobox. The USGS names aerospace alloys and solid oxide fuel cells as the principal uses of scandium in 2025, and lists scandium as critical in the US 2025 list and in the EU Annex II list. The oxide is also sold for thin-film optical coatings (Lorad Chemical).",
    "uses": [
      {
        "where": "Aerospace alloys and fuel cells",
        "line": "The USGS reports that the principal uses for scandium in 2025 were in aerospace alloys and in solid oxide fuel cells for large-scale power generation and backup power systems. The chapter covers scandium overall, not scandium oxide alone."
      },
      {
        "where": "Thin-film optical coatings",
        "line": "Lorad Chemical lists thin film coatings as the market focus for scandium oxide and e-beam as the evaporation source."
      },
      {
        "where": "Laser ceramics (laboratory)",
        "line": "A 2008 study calls scandium oxide interesting as a laser material because of its very high thermal conductivity. The same paper gives a melting point of about 2430 °C, which makes single crystals hard to grow, so transparent ceramics are used instead."
      }
    ],
    "can_do": [
      {
        "label": "Melting point",
        "line": "Melts at 2,485 °C in the Wikipedia infobox, although the Ereztech SDS prints 2430 °C for the same compound.",
        "scope": "material"
      },
      {
        "label": "Optical use",
        "line": "Lorad Chemical and nanografi both describe the oxide's optical properties, which suit thin-film optical coatings.",
        "scope": "material"
      },
      {
        "label": "Band gap",
        "line": "Has a band gap of 5.7 eV and a UV cut-off of 215 nm (nanografi).",
        "scope": "material"
      },
      {
        "label": "Density",
        "line": "Has a density of 3.86 g/cm3 in the Wikipedia infobox and 3.86 gm/cc in a 2012 manufacturer MSDS.",
        "scope": "material"
      }
    ],
    "compare": "Scandium oxide is a refractory oxide, and the sources we hold give optical and thermal-stability data rather than mechanical data. Alumina in this collection is the closest comparison, a hard insulating oxide ceramic, but no strength or toughness figure for scandium oxide was found to set beside alumina's. Its melting point of 2,485 °C in Wikipedia is listed as 2430 °C in an SDS, so the two values are shown side by side rather than averaged.",
    "compare_rows": [
      {
        "label": "Melting point",
        "benchmark": "melting_point",
        "scope": "material"
      },
      {
        "label": "Density",
        "benchmark": "density",
        "scope": "material"
      },
      {
        "label": "Refractive index",
        "benchmark": "refractive_index",
        "scope": "material"
      }
    ],
    "handling": [
      "Keep the container tightly sealed in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place, away from strong oxidizing agents (Ereztech and SAM documents).",
      "Avoid raising dust. Use a fume hood, and a respirator for fine dust when ventilation is poor (ProChem SDS).",
      "Wear safety glasses with side shields and chemical-resistant gloves (ProChem SDS)."
    ],
    "good_for": [
      "Thin-film optical coatings, the market Lorad Chemical lists for its scandium oxide.",
      "Research on transparent ceramic laser hosts, where the cubic oxide's high thermal conductivity is the stated attraction (2008 study)."
    ],
    "watch_out": [
      "Melting point values disagree between sources: 2,485 °C (Wikipedia, ProChem SDS) and 2430 °C (Ereztech SDS).",
      "Single crystals are hard to grow because of the high melting point (2008 study), so transparent ceramics are used instead.",
      "The 2012 manufacturer MSDS lists chronic lung and blood effects from inhaled dust, while most newer SDSs report no GHS class."
    ],
    "verdict": "Scandium oxide is a dense, refractory oxide with useful optical data. Its mechanical data are missing from the sources we hold, and its melting point is reported two ways.",
    "recipe": {
      "line": "Sc2O3 is scandium(III) oxide: two scandium atoms and three oxygen atoms per formula unit, in a bixbyite (cubic) crystal with space group Ia3 (No. 206) and a lattice constant of 985 pm (Wikipedia infobox). Scandium is produced as a byproduct, mainly from nickel and titanium process streams; scandium materials are also produced in the Philippines and sent to Japan for processing into scandium oxide (USGS).",
      "parts": [
        {
          "name": "Scandium",
          "symbol": "Sc",
          "role": "The metal in the oxide. Scandium is produced as a byproduct of nickel and titanium processing, so supply depends on those industries (USGS)."
        },
        {
          "name": "Oxygen",
          "symbol": "O",
          "role": "Forms the oxide framework. Wikipedia calls scandium oxide the primary form of refined scandium."
        }
      ]
    },
    "risk_groups": [
      {
        "title": "For people",
        "lead": "PubChem lists no GHS hazard class for the compound, and the 2025 Ereztech SDS says it is not hazardous under the 2012 OSHA standard. Two supplier documents still describe irritation.",
        "points": [
          {
            "label": "Eyes and skin",
            "line": "The ProChem SDS says the powder may be a mild to severe irritant to the eyes and may cause slight to mild skin irritation."
          },
          {
            "label": "Inhaled dust",
            "line": "The 2012 Stanford Advanced Materials MSDS lists irritation of the airways and, after chronic exposure, granuloma in the lungs."
          }
        ],
        "level": 0,
        "verdict": "Not classified as hazardous under GHS by PubChem"
      },
      {
        "title": "Storage and handling",
        "points": [
          {
            "label": "Incompatible materials",
            "line": "The Ereztech SDS lists strong oxidizing agents as incompatible (Section 10)."
          },
          {
            "label": "Dust",
            "line": "Avoid raising dust. Use a fume hood, and a respirator for fine dust when ventilation is poor (ProChem SDS, Section 4)."
          }
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "updated": "2026-11-01",
  "review": {
    "status": "draft",
    "method": "assistant",
    "checked_values": 13,
    "unreachable": 0,
    "caveats": 1,
    "note": "Values read on 2026-11-01 from pages fetched in this run. Melting-point values disagree across sources and all are kept. Thermal conductivity, atomic weights and crustal abundance are left out (see gaps)."
  },
  "sources": {
    "lorad-sc2o3": {
      "title": "Scandium Oxide (Sc2O3), Lorad Chemical Corporation product page (catalog SC-4735)",
      "id": "Catalog SC-4735; CAS 12060-08-1",
      "url": "https://loradchemical.com/products/scandium-oxide",
      "year": 2026,
      "kind": "web",
      "license": "supplier product page, cited not reproduced"
    },
    "pubchem-sc2o3": {
      "title": "PubChem compound record, scandium oxide (CID 134661)",
      "id": "CID 134661; CAS 12060-08-1",
      "url": "https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/134661/JSON",
      "year": 2026,
      "kind": "database",
      "license": "public domain (NCBI)"
    },
    "nanografi-sc2o3": {
      "title": "Scandium Oxide (Sc2O3) Powder, Nanografi product page (SKU NG07RE0104)",
      "id": "SKU NG07RE0104",
      "url": "https://shop.nanografi.com/rare-earth-materials/rare-earth-oxide-powder/scandium-oxide-sc2o3-powder/",
      "year": 2026,
      "kind": "web",
      "license": "supplier product page, cited not reproduced"
    },
    "wiki-sc2o3": {
      "title": "Scandium oxide, English Wikipedia article (infobox)",
      "id": "CAS 12060-08-1; EC 235-042-0",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandium_oxide",
      "year": 2026,
      "kind": "web",
      "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikipedia)"
    },
    "usgs-mcs2026-scandium": {
      "title": "Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Scandium",
      "id": "USGS MCS 2026, February 2026",
      "url": "https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-scandium.pdf",
      "year": 2026,
      "kind": "report",
      "license": "public domain (USGS)"
    },
    "usgs-crit2025": {
      "title": "About the 2025 List of Critical Minerals (USGS final list)",
      "id": "Final 2025 List of Critical Minerals, November 2025",
      "url": "https://www.usgs.gov/programs/mineral-resources-program/science/about-2025-list-critical-minerals",
      "year": 2025,
      "kind": "web",
      "license": "public domain (USGS)"
    },
    "joam-2008": {
      "title": "Judd-Ofelt analysis of the Er3+ (4f11) absorption intensities in Er3+-doped Sc2O3",
      "id": "Journal of Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials, Vol. 10, No. 2, February 2008, p. 359-362",
      "url": "https://joam.inoe.ro/articles/judd-ofelt-analysis-of-the-er3-4f11-absorption-intensities-in-er3-doped-sc2o3/fulltext",
      "year": 2008,
      "kind": "paper",
      "license": "open-access journal (licence not read on the page)"
    },
    "eu-annex2": {
      "title": "List of 34 Critical Raw Materials, Annex II of the Critical Raw Materials Act 2023 (copy hosted by EIT RawMaterials)",
      "id": "Regulation (EU) 2024/1252, Annex II",
      "url": "https://eitrawmaterials.eu/sites/default/files/2026-02/List%20of%2034%20Critical%20Raw%20Materials%20Annex%20II%20CRMA%202023.pdf",
      "year": 2024,
      "kind": "standard",
      "license": "EU legislation, cited not reproduced"
    },
    "ec-crm": {
      "title": "Critical raw materials, European Commission page",
      "id": "Regulation (EU) 2024/1252",
      "url": "https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/raw-materials/areas-specific-interest/critical-raw-materials_en",
      "year": 2024,
      "kind": "web",
      "license": "European Commission web page"
    },
    "prochem-sds": {
      "title": "Scandium (III) oxide safety data sheet, ProChem Inc., CAS 12060-08-1",
      "id": "CAS 12060-08-1; date prepared 04/14 as printed",
      "url": "https://prochemonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/3149.ScandiumOxide.pdf",
      "year": 2024,
      "kind": "datasheet",
      "license": "supplier document, linked not reproduced"
    },
    "ereztech-sds": {
      "title": "Scandium oxide safety data sheet, Ereztech LLC, SC0081, revision 1.00",
      "id": "Ereztech SC0081; CAS 12060-08-1; date of issue 10/6/2025",
      "url": "https://ereztech.com/wp-content/uploads/chemical_sds/SDS-SC0081.pdf",
      "year": 2025,
      "kind": "datasheet",
      "license": "supplier document, linked not reproduced"
    },
    "sam-msds": {
      "title": "Material Safety Data Sheet, Scandium Oxide, Stanford Advanced Materials (version 2.0)",
      "id": "CAS 12060-08-1; revision date Sep 5, 2012",
      "url": "https://www.sputtertargets.net/Public/pdf/scandium-oxide-msds.pdf",
      "year": 2012,
      "kind": "datasheet",
      "license": "supplier document, linked not reproduced"
    }
  },
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "url": "https://spacemushroom.com/profiles/scandium-oxide/"
}