Yttrium was discovered in the mid-1700s in a small town called Ytterby located on a Swedish island. A chemist found a lump of what looked like coal. As one guest explains, "Nowhere on the planet have so many rare earth elements been found... [There are] four elements named for this town." Yttrium is often used as an additive in alloys, to increase their strenth. Yttrium-aluminium garnet (YAG) is used in laser surgery and cancer treatment. This Element of Surprise segment features the following experts: Peter Loock, chemistry professor, Queen's University; and Bob Burk, chemistry professor, Carleton University.

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