Scandium: Oxide Dissolved in Fused Sodium Scandium Fluoride and Electrolysed at 800 °C (Vickery, US 3,111,467)

Like aluminium in cryolite, scandium oxide dissolves in a molten sodium scandium fluoride. Vickery melted that salt in a graphite crucible under helium and argon and passed current through it; the current kept the bath molten and scandium metal formed as granules in the melt. Result: about 0.15 g of scandium from 0.45 g of oxide, about 50 % of theory. Source: R. C. Vickery, US 3,111,467 (1963), Example 1. Molten fluorides are toxic; work at 800 °C in a sealed furnace. Picture: the patent drawing.