NEODYMIUM

nēˌōdĭmˈēəm, metallic chemical element; symbol Nd; at. no. 60; at. wt. 144.24; m.p. about 1,021 degrees Celsius; b.p. about 3,068 degrees Celsius; sp. gr. 7.004 at 20 degrees Celsius; valence +3. Neodymium is a lustrous silver-yellow metal. It is one of the rare-earth metals in the lanthanide series of group IIIb of the periodic table. It exists in two distinct forms (see allotropy); at room temperature it has a hexagonal crystalline structure, but when heated above about 800 degrees Celsius it assumes a face-centered cubic conformation with specific gravity about 6.8. The metal tarnishes in air; the coating formed does not protect the metal from further oxidation, so it must be stored away from contact with air. The oxide (neodymia, Nd₂O₃) is light blue. The metal is also attacked by water and by acids. Its salts form various red aqueous solutions. Neodymium is present in the minerals monazite and bastnasite. The metal may be prepared from its halides by reduction. Neodymium is one of several metals in an alloy commonly used in cigarette lighter flints. Neodymium is used in coloring glasses. The earth didymia is a mixture of the oxides of neodymium and praseodymium. The lenses of goggles used by glassblowers are made with a didymium glass that absorbs the yellow sodium glare of the flame. Neodymium was discovered in 1885 by C. A. von Welsbach who separated Mosander's "didymium" into two components, the earths neodymia and praseodymia.

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