Neodymium (Nd)
"Neo-Dymium, master of magnetic forces and light manipulation, can focus energy into invisible fields or blazing laser beams, powering everything from your headphones to futuristic tech!"
A memorable persona to anchor Nd in your mind.
7.01
Grams per cm³
1016
Celsius (°C)
229
Radius (pm)
Daily Life Link
The tiny, unseen powerhouse making your headphones boom, your phone vibrate, and your electric car zoom!
Discovery & History
Year Discovered
1885
Discovered By
Carl Auer von Welsbach
Origin of Name
"The name is derived from the Greek ''neos didymos'' meaning new twin."
Technical Properties
Atomic Mass
144.242 u
Standard State
solid
Boiling Point
3074°C
Electron Configuration
[Xe] 4f46s2
1st Ionization Energy
5.525 eV
Electron Affinity
N/A
Oxidation States
"A shiny, silvery metal that quickly tarnishes in air, blossoming into a captivating purplish-pink hue."
Did You Know?
Neodymium magnets are the STRONGEST permanent magnets known to humankind, capable of lifting objects thousands of times their own weight!
It wasn't until 1885 that Austrian chemist Carl Auer von Welsbach successfully isolated Neodymium, separating it from an element thought to be a single entity called 'didymium.'
Its name comes from the Greek words 'neos didymos,' meaning 'new twin,' because it was the 'new twin' to praseodymium, which it was separated from.
Neodymium is a 'rare earth' element, but don't let the name fool you! It's actually quite abundant in Earth's crust; the 'rarity' comes from how difficult it is to extract and process.