Scandium is called eka-boron. This designation comes from Mendeléev's periodic table predictions.
Eka-Boron Explained
Mendeléev, when creating his periodic table, predicted the existence of elements that had not yet been discovered. He used the prefix "eka-" (Sanskrit for "one") to name these predicted elements, indicating they were one place below a known element in the same group.
- Eka-boron was the element predicted to be below boron in Group 3 of the periodic table.
Scandium as Eka-Boron
After its discovery, Scandium was found to have properties that matched Mendeléev's predictions for eka-boron.
| Feature | Eka-Boron (Predicted) | Scandium (Observed) |
|---|---|---|
| Atomic Mass | ~44 | 44.955912 |
| Oxide Formula | Eb2O3 | Sc2O3 |
| Other Predictions | Similar to Boron | Confirmed |
Therefore, Scandium is recognized as the element that was originally called eka-boron by Mendeléev.
