Nd
Neodymium144.242 (3)
In 1885 von Welsbach separated didymium, an extract of cerite, into two new elemental components, neodymia and praseodymia, by repeated fractionation of ammonium didymium nitrate. While the free metal is a component of misch metal, (a pyrophoric alloy for lighter flints), the element was not isolated in relatively pure form until 1925.
- Name:Neodymium
- Symbol: Nd
- Atomic number: 60
- Atomic weight:144.242 (3)
- Standard state: solid at 298 K
- Group in periodic table:
- Group name:Lanthanoid
- Period in periodic table: 6
- Block in periodic table: f-block
- Classification: Metallic
- alloys
- lasers (to produce coherent light)
- used in astronomy to calibrate spectral lines
he metal has a bright silvery metallic lustre. Neodymium is one of the more reactive rare-earth metals and quickly tarnishes in air, forming an oxide that spalls off and exposes the metal to further oxidation.