The great Mendeleev predicted the existence of an element which would have a
atomic mass between 40 calcium and 48 of Titanium.  He named this element ekaboron.
In 1879 the element was discovered by Nilson in the minerals euxenite and gadolinite.
These minerals were only found in Nilson’s country, Scandinavia.  Nilson went about
finding this element by processing 10kg of euxenite, and then was able to prepare around
2 g of scandium oxide of high purity.  Later Scandium was figured to be Mendeleev’s
ekaboron.

        Scandium is classed as a rare-earth element and is found in minute amounts in minerals often associated with the lanthanide’s.  Thortveitite, which is a rare mineral found in Scandinavia, contains lots of scandium.
Metallic scandium can be made by electrolyzing a eutectic melt of potassium, lithium
and scandium chlorides, with electrodes of tungsten wire and a pool of molten zinc.