Scandium oxide (Sc2O3) Sc2O3
Sc2O3 · CAS 12060-08-1 · Ia3 (No. 206)
Scandium(III) oxide (Sc2O3, CAS 12060-08-1) is a white oxide with a density of 3.86 g/cm3 (Wikipedia infobox).
Evidence level
2 of 5
Lab-measured
- 0Predicted only. No one has made it, or no measurement exists.
- 1Calculated. Only calculated or predicted values from sources.
- 2Lab-measured. Measured properties with their conditions stated.
- 3Space-relevant tests. Measured in conditions relevant to space, such as vacuum or atomic oxygen.
- 4Ground-qualified. Qualified for an application on the ground.
- 5Flown or field-proven. Flight or field results exist.
Recipe, share of the weight
- Sc not statedScandium
- O not statedOxygen
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
Risk at a glance
- People None found. Not classified as hazardous under GHS by PubChem
- If it fails No data. No failure risks recorded
- Corrosion None found. Scandium oxide is insoluble in water, per Wikipedia.
Quick facts: Sc2O3
| Property | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 3.86 g/cm³ | 3 sourced values across conditions |
| Melting point | 2,430 to 2,485 °C | 4 sourced values across conditions |
What is the density of Scandium oxide (Sc2O3)?
Scandium oxide (Sc2O3) has a density of 3.86 g/cm³. The range covers 3 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is the melting point of Scandium oxide (Sc2O3)?
Scandium oxide (Sc2O3) has a melting point of 2,430 to 2,485 °C. The range covers 4 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is Scandium oxide (Sc2O3) used for?
Uses recorded in the sources include Aerospace alloys containing scandium; Thin-film optical coatings (electron-beam evaporation source); Erbium-doped Sc2O3 transparent ceramic (laboratory laser material).
Why it exists
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).
Where it's used
Aerospace alloys and fuel cells
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.
Thin-film optical coatings
Lorad Chemical lists thin film coatings as the market focus for scandium oxide and e-beam as the evaporation source.
Laser ceramics (laboratory)
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.
Recipe
Sc2O3
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).
| Ingredient | Share of the weight | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Scandium Sc | not stated | The metal in the oxide. Scandium is produced as a byproduct of nickel and titanium processing, so supply depends on those industries (USGS). |
| Oxygen O | not stated | Forms the oxide framework. Wikipedia calls scandium oxide the primary form of refined scandium. |
Weight shares are as printed in the sources.
What it can do
Melting point
Melts at 2,485 °C in the Wikipedia infobox, although the Ereztech SDS prints 2430 °C for the same compound.
Optical use
Lorad Chemical and nanografi both describe the oxide's optical properties, which suit thin-film optical coatings.
Band gap
Has a band gap of 5.7 eV and a UV cut-off of 215 nm (nanografi).
Density
Has a density of 3.86 g/cm3 in the Wikipedia infobox and 3.86 gm/cc in a 2012 manufacturer MSDS.
How it compares
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.
The same measurements for each material, so you can compare them. Each row names the key condition under the value; the full conditions and methods are in the numbered notes under Technical details. Other materials are shown beside it; each was measured under its own conditions, so open its page before comparing closely. Compare every grade in the family.
| Measurement | Sc2O3 | Al2O3 | BaTiO3 | BeO | CaTiO3 | RCF | CeO2 | CoO and Co3O4 | CuO, Cu2O | HfO2 | Fe2O3, Fe3O4 | LSM | PZT | MgO | NiO | Nb2O5 | Al2Si4O10(OH)2 | Ln2O3 | SiO | MgO-SiO2 | SnO2, ITO | TiO2 | WO3 | V2O5 | Y2O3 | ZnO | Mg-PSZ, ATZ, ZTA | YSZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal behavior and safety | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Melting point, reference infobox | 2485 °C4 | 2030 to 2072 °C | 1625 °C | 2578 °C | 1975 °C | 1760 °C | 2600 °C | 1830 °C | 1326 °C | 2774 °C | no data | > 1650 °C | no data | 2800 °C | 1984 °C | 1500 °C | no data | 2304 °C | 1702 °C | no data | 1630 °C | 1850 °C | 1472 °C | 690 °C | 2410 °C | 1975 °C | no data | no data |
| Melting point, supplier SDS (ProChem) | 2485 °C5 | 2030 to 2072 °C | 1625 °C | 2578 °C | 1975 °C | 1760 °C | 2600 °C | 1830 °C | 1326 °C | 2774 °C | no data | > 1650 °C | no data | 2800 °C | 1984 °C | 1500 °C | no data | 2304 °C | 1702 °C | no data | 1630 °C | 1850 °C | 1472 °C | 690 °C | 2410 °C | 1975 °C | no data | no data |
| Melting point, supplier SDS (Ereztech) | 2430 °C6 | 2030 to 2072 °C | 1625 °C | 2578 °C | 1975 °C | 1760 °C | 2600 °C | 1830 °C | 1326 °C | 2774 °C | no data | > 1650 °C | no data | 2800 °C | 1984 °C | 1500 °C | no data | 2304 °C | 1702 °C | no data | 1630 °C | 1850 °C | 1472 °C | 690 °C | 2410 °C | 1975 °C | no data | no data |
| Melting point, nanografi product page | 2430 °C7 | 2030 to 2072 °C | 1625 °C | 2578 °C | 1975 °C | 1760 °C | 2600 °C | 1830 °C | 1326 °C | 2774 °C | no data | > 1650 °C | no data | 2800 °C | 1984 °C | 1500 °C | no data | 2304 °C | 1702 °C | no data | 1630 °C | 1850 °C | 1472 °C | 690 °C | 2410 °C | 1975 °C | no data | no data |
| Melting point, cited in a 2008 study | 2430 °C8 | 2030 to 2072 °C | 1625 °C | 2578 °C | 1975 °C | 1760 °C | 2600 °C | 1830 °C | 1326 °C | 2774 °C | no data | > 1650 °C | no data | 2800 °C | 1984 °C | 1500 °C | no data | 2304 °C | 1702 °C | no data | 1630 °C | 1850 °C | 1472 °C | 690 °C | 2410 °C | 1975 °C | no data | no data |
| Physical and electrical | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Density, reference infoboxValue printed in the Wikipedia infobox | 3.86 g/cm³ | 3.72 g/cm³ | 6.08 - | 3.01 g/cu cm | 4.1 g/cc | 64 kg/m3 | 7.65 g/cm³ | 6.45 g/cm³ | 6 - | 9.68 g/cc | 5.24 g/cm³ | 2 g/cm³ | 7.8 g/cm³ | 3.58 g/cm³ | 6.67 g/cm³ | 4.6 g/cm³ | 2.3 g/cc | 6.51 g/cm³ | 2.13 g/cc | 2.8 g/cm³ | 6.95 g/mL | 4 g/cm³ | 7.2 g/cm³ | 3.4 - | > 4.9 g/cm³ | 5.67 g/cm³ | 5.72 g/cm³ | 6.02 g/cm³ |
| Specific gravity, manufacturer MSDS (2012) | 3.86 gm/cc1 | 3.72 g/cm³ | 6.08 - | 3.01 g/cu cm | 4.1 g/cc | 64 kg/m3 | 7.65 g/cm³ | 6.45 g/cm³ | 6 - | 9.68 g/cc | 5.24 g/cm³ | 2 g/cm³ | 7.8 g/cm³ | 3.58 g/cm³ | 6.67 g/cm³ | 4.6 g/cm³ | 2.3 g/cc | 6.51 g/cm³ | 2.13 g/cc | 2.8 g/cm³ | 6.95 g/mL | 4 g/cm³ | 7.2 g/cm³ | 3.4 - | > 4.9 g/cm³ | 5.67 g/cm³ | 5.72 g/cm³ | 6.02 g/cm³ |
| Specific gravity, supplier SDS (ProChem) | 3.864 gm/ml2 | 3.72 g/cm³ | 6.08 - | 3.01 g/cu cm | 4.1 g/cc | 64 kg/m3 | 7.65 g/cm³ | 6.45 g/cm³ | 6 - | 9.68 g/cc | 5.24 g/cm³ | 2 g/cm³ | 7.8 g/cm³ | 3.58 g/cm³ | 6.67 g/cm³ | 4.6 g/cm³ | 2.3 g/cc | 6.51 g/cm³ | 2.13 g/cc | 2.8 g/cm³ | 6.95 g/mL | 4 g/cm³ | 7.2 g/cm³ | 3.4 - | > 4.9 g/cm³ | 5.67 g/cm³ | 5.72 g/cm³ | 6.02 g/cm³ |
| Other measurements | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Molar mass, reference infobox | 137.9 g/mol3 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | 74.69 g/mol | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | 231.8 g/mol | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Refractive index, bulk (nanografi) | 2 -9 | no data | 2.416 - | 1.719 - | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | 1.708 - | no data | 2.091 - | no data | 1.93 - | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | 1.92 - | no data | no data | no data |
| Band gap | 5.7 eV10 | no data | no data | 10.6 eV | no data | no data | no data | no data | 2.17 eV | 5.65 eV | no data | 4.11 eV | no data | no data | 3.6 to 4 eV | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | 3.6 eV | 3.23 eV | no data | no data | no data | 3.37 eV | no data | no data |
| UV cut-off wavelength | 215 nm11 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Lattice constant (bixbyite cubic cell)Value printed in the Wikipedia infobox | 985 pm | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
Why choose it, and why not
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 for
- 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.
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.
Technical details
For scientists and researchers. Everything above comes from the record below: every number with its method, its conditions and its source.
Notes
The method, full conditions and any caveat for the numbered rows above.
| # | Measurement | Method | Conditions | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Specific gravity, manufacturer MSDS (2012) | Value printed in a 2012 manufacturer material safety data sheet | basis specific gravity, water = 1, as printedform white powder | — |
| 2 | Specific gravity, supplier SDS (ProChem) | Value printed in Section 9 of a supplier safety data sheet | basis specific gravity as printedform white powder | — |
| 3 | Molar mass, reference infobox | Value printed in the Wikipedia infobox, printed as 137.910 g/mol | basis molar mass of the compound, formula Sc2O3 | — |
| 4 | Melting point, reference infobox | Value printed in the Wikipedia infobox, which prints 2,485 °C (4,505 °F; 2,758 K) | pressure not statedbasis value printed as the melting point of the compound | — |
| 5 | Melting point, supplier SDS (ProChem) | Value printed in a supplier safety data sheet, Section 9 Physical and Chemical Properties | form white powderpressure not stated | — |
| 6 | Melting point, supplier SDS (Ereztech) | Value printed in Section 9 of a 2025 supplier safety data sheet | form solid, white powderpressure not stated | This value disagrees with the 2485 °C in Wikipedia and the ProChem SDS. Both values are kept, and neither is averaged. |
| 7 | Melting point, nanografi product page | Value printed as approximately 2430 °C in the product description table | form powdernote printed with an approximation sign | The page prints this value with an approximation sign, so it is not exact. |
| 8 | Melting point, cited in a 2008 study | Value printed in the Introduction of a 2008 paper, which cites an earlier source | basis approximate value (printed as ~2430°C) quoted from an earlier reference | Approximate, as printed with a tilde. |
| 9 | Refractive index, bulk (nanografi) | Value printed in a supplier product description table, written as nH | basis bulk materialwavelength 300 nm as printed (A = 300 nm) | — |
| 10 | Band gap | Value printed in a supplier product description table | basis value printed by the supplier; temperature and method not stated | — |
| 11 | UV cut-off wavelength | Value printed in a supplier product description table | basis value printed by the supplier; method not stated | — |
Corrosion and compatibility
What happens when it meets other materials and environments.
| Environment | Concern | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Water | none | Scandium oxide is insoluble in water, per Wikipedia.1 |
| Hot acids | not rated | Scandium oxide dissolves in hot acids with reaction.2 |
| Strong oxidizing agents | not rated | The Ereztech SDS lists strong oxidizing agents as incompatible.3 |
| # | Environment | Details | Test conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Water | The Wikipedia infobox prints insoluble in water with no exposure time or temperature. No corrosion test on the compound was found. | basis solubility statement, no exposure test |
| 2 | Hot acids | The Wikipedia infobox prints soluble in hot acids (reacts). It gives no acid, concentration or rate, so the severity is unknown. | basis solubility statement, no acid named |
| 3 | Strong oxidizing agents | The SDS lists strong oxidizing agents as incompatible materials and excess heat as a condition to avoid. It gives no reaction products or rates. | basis incompatibility statement in a supplier SDS |
Risks and side effects
Hazards to people, what happens when a cell overheats, and how the material is handled and stored.
For people
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.
- Eyes and skin
- The ProChem SDS says the powder may be a mild to severe irritant to the eyes and may cause slight to mild skin irritation.
- Inhaled dust
- The 2012 Stanford Advanced Materials MSDS lists irritation of the airways and, after chronic exposure, granuloma in the lungs.
Storage and handling
- Incompatible materials
- The Ereztech SDS lists strong oxidizing agents as incompatible (Section 10).
- Dust
- Avoid raising dust. Use a fume hood, and a respirator for fine dust when ventilation is poor (ProChem SDS, Section 4).
Test details
The original wording and numbers from the sources, for readers who want them.
Handling and storage
- Ereztech SDS: store in the original container in a dry, cool and well-ventilated area, away from incompatible materials and food and drink.
- 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.
- 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.
Mitigations
- ProChem SDS: wear approved safety glasses with side shields, safety goggles or a face shield, and chemical resistant gloves.
Supply and geography
How common the raw materials are and where they come from.
Scandium (and scandium oxide)
- Top producers (2025)
- China, Japan, Canada
- Critical mineral lists
- US: listed, EU: listed
- 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.
Scandium oxide price (market reference)
- Recycling
- USGS: recycling is None.
Documents
Datasheets, safety data sheets, papers and standards you can open.
Full record
The complete spore, as stored. Free to reuse under CC-BY-4.0. Images keep the licence shown with each one.
Show the full YAML
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.
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)
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
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
- benchmark: density
label: Specific gravity, manufacturer MSDS (2012)
value: 3.86
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
- benchmark: density
label: Specific gravity, supplier SDS (ProChem)
value: 3.864
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)
- benchmark: molar_mass
label: Molar mass, reference infobox
value: 137.91
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
- benchmark: melting_point
label: Melting point, reference infobox
value: 2485
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
- benchmark: melting_point
label: Melting point, supplier SDS (ProChem)
value: 2485
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)
- benchmark: melting_point
label: Melting point, supplier SDS (Ereztech)
value: 2430
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))
- benchmark: melting_point
label: Melting point, nanografi product page
value: 2430
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
- benchmark: melting_point
label: Melting point, cited in a 2008 study
value: 2430
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
- benchmark: refractive_index
label: Refractive index, bulk (nanografi)
value: 2
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
- benchmark: band_gap
label: Band gap
value: 5.7
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
- benchmark: uv_cutoff
label: UV cut-off wavelength
value: 215
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
- benchmark: lattice_constant
label: Lattice constant (bixbyite cubic cell)
value: 985
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)
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
note: Leading producer of scandium oxide; the USGS prints no share percentage
- country: Japan
year: 2025
note: Refines scandium oxide from Philippine scandium-oxalate feedstock; 89% of 2021 to 2024 US scandium oxide imports came from Japan
- country: Canada
year: 2025
note: Sorel-Tracy operation funded to expand scandium oxide capacity to 9 tons per year
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
note: Scandium oxide price and import shares are USGS figures for the chapter's commodity, not for this exact grade.
- subject: Scandium oxide price (market reference)
producers: []
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'
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.
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
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).
story:
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
level: 0
verdict: Not classified as hazardous under GHS by PubChem
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.
- 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).
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.
- label: Optical use
line: Lorad Chemical and nanografi both describe the oxide's optical properties, which suit thin-film optical coatings.
- label: Band gap
line: Has a band gap of 5.7 eV and a UV cut-off of 215 nm (nanografi).
- 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.
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
- label: Density
benchmark: density
- label: Refractive index
benchmark: refractive_index
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.
References
Every number above carries a reference number. Click one to see the source and where in it the value comes from.