Atomic number:60

Group numbers:3

Period:6

Electronic configuration:[Xe] 4f⁴ 6s²

Formal oxidation number:+3

Electronegativities:1.14

Atomic radius / pm:181.4

Relative atomic mass:144.242 ± 0.003

 

Neodymium was discovered by Carl Freiherr Auer von Welsbach (AT) in 1885. The origin of the name comes from the Greek words neos didymos meaning new twin. It is a silvery-white, rare-earth metal that oxidizes easily in air and reacts slowly in cold water, but more rapidly as heated. Metal ignites and burns readily. Neodymium is made from electrolysis of its halide salts, which are made from monazite sand. It is used in making artificial ruby for lasers, in ceramics and for a special lens with praseodymium, also to produce bright purple glass and special glass that filters infrared radiation. Misch metal, used in the manufacture of pyrophoric alloys for cigarette lighters, contains about 18% neodymium metal. (Typically composition of misch metal are Ce:Nd:Pr:La:Other rare earth=50:18:6:22:4). Neodymium is used to create some of the most powerful permanent magnets on Earth, known as NIB magnets they consist of neodymium, iron, and boron.

Density / g dm^-3:7007 (293 K)

Molar volume / cm³mol^-1:20.59 (293 K)

Electrical resistivity / μΩcm:64 (20 °C)

Thermal conductivity / W m^-1K^-1:16.5

Melting point / °C:1021

Boiling point / °C:3074

Heat of fusion / kJ mol^-1:7.113

Heat of vaporization / kJ mol^-1:328

Heat of atomization / kJ mol^-1:328.57

1st ionization energy / kJ mol^-1:533.09

2nd ionization energy / kJ mol^-1:1035.30

3rd ionization energy / kJ mol^-1:2132.34

in the atmosphere / ppm:-

in the Earth's crust / ppm:16

in the oceans / ppm:0.000003