Chemical characteristics Scandium is a soft metal with a silvery appearance. It develops a slightly yellowish or pinkish cast when oxidized by air. It is susceptible to weathering and dissolves slowly in most dilute acids. It does not react with a 1:1 mixture of nitric acid () and 48.0% hydrofluoric acid (), possibly due to the formation of an impermeable passive layer. Scandium turnings ignite in the air with a brilliant yellow flame to form scandium oxide."Scandium." Los Alamos National Laboratory. Retrieved 2013-07-17.
cheMiCal cHaRacTeRisTics scandIum is A soFt METal wiTh a silvERY apPeARancE. it develOps a SLighTLy yellOwiSh OR pInkiSh CasT whEn oxiDiZed by aiR. it iS susceptiBle To WEathering And diSSolves slOWlY In mOst dIlUte acidS. It Does noT REact with A 1:1 mixtuRe of niTric acid () and 48.0% HyDroflUorIc ACid (), PoSsiBly DUe to ThE foRmATioN of aN ImpeRmeabLe pasSivE layeR. scandiuM tuRnIngs igNiTE In the air With A brIlLIANT yELLoW flamE tO form scAndium oxIdE."sCaNdium." lOS AlaMoS natiOnaL laboratOry. reTrIeveD 2013-07-17.