Whose work first identified scandium as a new element in a rare mineral?

Lars Fredrik Nilson discovered scandium in 1879 through careful chemical analysis of rare minerals. His discovery filled one of Mendeleev’s predicted gaps in the periodic table and helped confirm the table’s accuracy. Scandium was named after Scandinavia, reflecting the region where it was found. Although rare and difficult to separate, scandium later proved valuable in aluminum alloys and high-performance materials. Its discovery was a landmark for the expanding periodic table.