Question

What are Group \[3\] elements called?

Answer 1

Hint: The elements which are present in group \[3\] have three valence electrons. The major oxidation state shown by the group \[3\] element is \[ + 3\] . There are total \[32\] elements present in the third group of the periodic table. Group \[3 - 12\] elements are arranged in the center of the periodic table.

Complete answer:
There are total \[32\] elements present in the third group of the periodic table in which \[4\] are the components of transformation, \[14\] are lanthanides and \[14\] are actinides. The elements which are present in group \[3\] have three valence electrons. The major oxidation state attained by the group \[3\] element is \[ + 3\] . Elements of group \[3\] will react by losing \[3\] electrons.
Group \[3\] elements consists of first group of the transition metals i.e. scandium \[(Sc)\] and yttrium \[(Y)\] and the first element of lanthanides i.e. lutetium \[(Lu)\] and the first element of actinides series elements i.e. Lawrencium \[(Lr)\] . This group is related to rare- earth metals.
Due to the effects of the Lanthanides contraction, yttrium \[(Y)\] and lutetium \[(Lu)\] show similar properties. They have the chemistry of the heavy lanthanides but scandium \[(Sc)\] is different from then due to its small size. Lawrencium \[(Lr)\] is a strongly radioactive element.it does not occur naturally. It is produced artificially but its properties are consistent with heavier homologue of lutetium \[(Lu)\] .
Sometimes lanthanum \[(La)\] and actinium \[(Ac)\] were included in the group instead of writing lutetium \[(Lu)\] and Lawrencium \[(Lr)\] . So, we can say the group \[3\] consists of scandium \[(Sc)\] , yttrium \[(Y)\] and the whole lanthanides and actinides series elements.

Note:
All the elements in Group \[3\] are very soft. Their appearance is like silvery-white metals. Their hardness increases with atomic number. They react with water and tarnishes in air which leads to the formation of an oxide layer. They are poor metals. They have a lower melting point as well.