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- Name : Neodymium
- Symbol : Nd
- Atomic # : 60
- Atom weight: 144.24
- Melting P. : 1021
- Boiling P. : 3074
- Oxidation : +3
- Pronounced : nee-eh-DIM-i-em
- From : Greek neos + didymos, "new" + "twin"
- Identified : Carl Auer von Welsbach in 1885
- Appearance : Silvery-white, rare-earth metal that oxidizes easily in air
- Note : The third most abundant rare-earth element
-
- [Properties]
-
- Neodymium is reactive with both air and moisture. In dry air, it
- tarnishes to form the light-blue oxide that flakes away and exposes more
- metal tha tis susceptible to further oxidation. It reacts with water to
- form neodymium hydroxide and hydrogen gas - a reaction that becomes more
- vigorous at higher temperatures. Because this metal is so reactive to
- normal environmental conditions, it is shipped and stored in containers
- of mineral oil and other nonreactive liquids.
- Neodymium, aside from being a rare-earth metal, is also a member of the
- lanthanide series of elements - a series that begins with lanthanum
- (element 57) and ends with lutetium (element 71).
-