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Object

Scandium

A metallic, silvery aggregate with a rough, fragmented texture, resembling a cluster of small, angular pieces, is displayed against a black background.

Element 21, a silvery transition metal named for Scandinavia. Vanishingly rare in concentrated ores despite being more abundant in the crust than lead. Modern uses are niche: scandium-aluminium alloys in high-end bicycle frames and aerospace components, and scandium iodide in stadium lighting, where it produces a daylight-like spectrum favoured by television cameras.

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