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).

    12 sources · Updated 2026-11-01 · CC BY 4.0

    Evidence level

    2 of 5

    Lab-measured

    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

    Key properties of Sc2O3
    PropertyValueBasis
    Density3.86 g/cm³3 sourced values across conditions
    Melting point2,430 to 2,485 °C4 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).

    What Sc2O3 is made of
    IngredientShare of the weightWhat 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.

    Benchmarks
    MeasurementSc2O3Al2O3BaTiO3BeOCaTiO3RCFCeO2CoO and Co3O4CuO, Cu2OHfO2Fe2O3, Fe3O4LSMPZTMgONiONb2O5Al2Si4O10(OH)2Ln2O3SiOMgO-SiO2SnO2, ITOTiO2WO3V2O5Y2O3ZnOMg-PSZ, ATZ, ZTAYSZ
    Thermal behavior and safety
    Melting point, reference infobox2485 °C42030 to 2072 °C1625 °C2578 °C1975 °C1760 °C2600 °C1830 °C1326 °C2774 °Cno data> 1650 °Cno data2800 °C1984 °C1500 °Cno data2304 °C1702 °Cno data1630 °C1850 °C1472 °C690 °C2410 °C1975 °Cno datano data
    Melting point, supplier SDS (ProChem)2485 °C52030 to 2072 °C1625 °C2578 °C1975 °C1760 °C2600 °C1830 °C1326 °C2774 °Cno data> 1650 °Cno data2800 °C1984 °C1500 °Cno data2304 °C1702 °Cno data1630 °C1850 °C1472 °C690 °C2410 °C1975 °Cno datano data
    Melting point, supplier SDS (Ereztech)2430 °C62030 to 2072 °C1625 °C2578 °C1975 °C1760 °C2600 °C1830 °C1326 °C2774 °Cno data> 1650 °Cno data2800 °C1984 °C1500 °Cno data2304 °C1702 °Cno data1630 °C1850 °C1472 °C690 °C2410 °C1975 °Cno datano data
    Melting point, nanografi product page2430 °C72030 to 2072 °C1625 °C2578 °C1975 °C1760 °C2600 °C1830 °C1326 °C2774 °Cno data> 1650 °Cno data2800 °C1984 °C1500 °Cno data2304 °C1702 °Cno data1630 °C1850 °C1472 °C690 °C2410 °C1975 °Cno datano data
    Melting point, cited in a 2008 study2430 °C82030 to 2072 °C1625 °C2578 °C1975 °C1760 °C2600 °C1830 °C1326 °C2774 °Cno data> 1650 °Cno data2800 °C1984 °C1500 °Cno data2304 °C1702 °Cno data1630 °C1850 °C1472 °C690 °C2410 °C1975 °Cno datano data
    Physical and electrical
    Density, reference infoboxValue printed in the Wikipedia infobox3.86 g/cm³3.72 g/cm³6.08 -3.01 g/cu cm4.1 g/cc64 kg/m37.65 g/cm³6.45 g/cm³6 -9.68 g/cc5.24 g/cm³2 g/cm³7.8 g/cm³3.58 g/cm³6.67 g/cm³4.6 g/cm³2.3 g/cc6.51 g/cm³2.13 g/cc2.8 g/cm³6.95 g/mL4 g/cm³7.2 g/cm³3.4 -> 4.9 g/cm³5.67 g/cm³5.72 g/cm³6.02 g/cm³
    Specific gravity, manufacturer MSDS (2012)3.86 gm/cc13.72 g/cm³6.08 -3.01 g/cu cm4.1 g/cc64 kg/m37.65 g/cm³6.45 g/cm³6 -9.68 g/cc5.24 g/cm³2 g/cm³7.8 g/cm³3.58 g/cm³6.67 g/cm³4.6 g/cm³2.3 g/cc6.51 g/cm³2.13 g/cc2.8 g/cm³6.95 g/mL4 g/cm³7.2 g/cm³3.4 -> 4.9 g/cm³5.67 g/cm³5.72 g/cm³6.02 g/cm³
    Specific gravity, supplier SDS (ProChem)3.864 gm/ml23.72 g/cm³6.08 -3.01 g/cu cm4.1 g/cc64 kg/m37.65 g/cm³6.45 g/cm³6 -9.68 g/cc5.24 g/cm³2 g/cm³7.8 g/cm³3.58 g/cm³6.67 g/cm³4.6 g/cm³2.3 g/cc6.51 g/cm³2.13 g/cc2.8 g/cm³6.95 g/mL4 g/cm³7.2 g/cm³3.4 -> 4.9 g/cm³5.67 g/cm³5.72 g/cm³6.02 g/cm³
    Other measurements
    Molar mass, reference infobox137.9 g/mol3no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data74.69 g/molno datano datano datano datano datano datano data231.8 g/molno datano datano datano datano data
    Refractive index, bulk (nanografi)2 -9no data2.416 -1.719 -no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data1.708 -no data2.091 -no data1.93 -no datano datano datano datano datano data1.92 -no datano datano data
    Band gap5.7 eV10no datano data10.6 eVno datano datano datano data2.17 eV5.65 eVno data4.11 eVno datano data3.6 to 4 eVno datano datano datano datano data3.6 eV3.23 eVno datano datano data3.37 eVno datano data
    UV cut-off wavelength215 nm11no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
    Lattice constant (bixbyite cubic cell)Value printed in the Wikipedia infobox985 pmno datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano 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.

    Notes for the numbered rows
    #MeasurementMethodConditionsCaveat
    1Specific gravity, manufacturer MSDS (2012)Value printed in a 2012 manufacturer material safety data sheetbasis specific gravity, water = 1, as printedform white powder—
    2Specific gravity, supplier SDS (ProChem)Value printed in Section 9 of a supplier safety data sheetbasis specific gravity as printedform white powder—
    3Molar mass, reference infoboxValue printed in the Wikipedia infobox, printed as 137.910 g/molbasis molar mass of the compound, formula Sc2O3—
    4Melting point, reference infoboxValue 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—
    5Melting point, supplier SDS (ProChem)Value printed in a supplier safety data sheet, Section 9 Physical and Chemical Propertiesform white powderpressure not stated—
    6Melting point, supplier SDS (Ereztech)Value printed in Section 9 of a 2025 supplier safety data sheetform solid, white powderpressure not statedThis value disagrees with the 2485 °C in Wikipedia and the ProChem SDS. Both values are kept, and neither is averaged.
    7Melting point, nanografi product pageValue printed as approximately 2430 °C in the product description tableform powdernote printed with an approximation signThe page prints this value with an approximation sign, so it is not exact.
    8Melting point, cited in a 2008 studyValue printed in the Introduction of a 2008 paper, which cites an earlier sourcebasis approximate value (printed as ~2430°C) quoted from an earlier referenceApproximate, as printed with a tilde.
    9Refractive index, bulk (nanografi)Value printed in a supplier product description table, written as nHbasis bulk materialwavelength 300 nm as printed (A = 300 nm)—
    10Band gapValue printed in a supplier product description tablebasis value printed by the supplier; temperature and method not stated—
    11UV cut-off wavelengthValue printed in a supplier product description tablebasis value printed by the supplier; method not stated—

    Corrosion and compatibility

    What happens when it meets other materials and environments.

    Corrosion and compatibility
    EnvironmentConcernWhat 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
    Corrosion details
    #EnvironmentDetailsTest 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.