Neodymium

Neodymium compounds were first commercially used as glass dyes in 1927, and they remain a popular additive in glasses. The color of neodymium compounds—due to the Nd(III) ion—is often a reddish-purple but it changes with the type of lighting, due to fluorescent effects. Some neodymium-doped glasses are also used in [|lasers] that emit [|infrared light] with [|wavelengths] between 1047 and 1062 [|nanometers]. These have been used in extremely high power applications, such as experiments in [|inertial confinement fusion]. Neodymium is also used with various other [|substrate] crystals, such as [|yttrium aluminum garnet] in the [|Nd:YAG laser]. This laser usually emits [|infrared waves] at a [|wavelength] of about 1064 nanometers. The Nd:YAG laser is one of the most commonly used [|solid-state lasers]. Another chief use of neodymium is as the free pure element. It is used as a component in the alloys used to make high-strength [|neodymium magnets] – the most powerful permanent magnets known. These magnets are widely used in such products as microphones, professional loudspeakers, in-ear headphones, and computer hard disks, where low magnet mass or volume, or strong magnetic fields are required. Larger neodymium magnets are used in high power versus weight [|electric motors] (for example in [|hybrid cars]) and generators (for example [|aircraft] and [|wind turbine] [|electric generators]).
 * Neodymium** is a [|chemical element] with the symbol **Nd** and [|atomic number] 60. It is a soft silvery metal that [|tarnishes] in air. Neodymium was discovered in 1885 by the Austrian [|chemist] [|Carl Auer von Welsbach]. It is present in significant quantities in the ore minerals [|monazite] and [|bastnäsite]. Neodymium is not found naturally in metallic form or unmixed with other [|lanthanides], and it is usually refined for general use. Although neodymium is classed as a "[|rare earth]", it is no rarer than [|cobalt], [|nickel], and [|copper] ore, and is widely distributed in the Earth's crust.[|[][|2][|]] Most of the world's neodymium is mined in China.

Discovery of Neodymium
Author: Dr. Doug Stewart Neodymium was first identified in 1885 by Carl Auer von Welsbach. It was discovered in 'didymium,' a substance incorrectly identified by Carl Mosander as a new element in 1841. (1) The nonexistent 'didymium' was even given the symbol Di in Mendeleev's first edition of the periodic table in 1869. In 1879 Lecoq de Boisbaudran detected and separated samarium from 'didymium.' (1a) After samarium had been discovered, it was noted that 'didymium's' absorption spectrum gave different results depending on which mineral it had been sourced from. (2) Bohuslav Brauner published a paper on atomic weight determinations in 1882 for rare earth elements and his data for 'didymium' were variable. Brauner became convinced that 'didymium' was a mixture of elements; he attempted to separate them, but he was not successful. (2) In 1885 Carl Welsbach, who had discovered 'didymium' 14 years earlier, realized it was actually a mixture of two entirely new elements. He named these neodymium and [|praseodymium]. Welsbach reacted 'didymium' to form nitrate salts, which he then fractionally crystallized from nitric acid to yield pink neodymium and greenish-brown praseodymium salts. The fractional crystallization experiments were very time consuming, involving more than one hundred crystallization operations, each lasting up to 48 hours. Neodymium was named with 'neos didymos' - Greek for 'new twin,' reflecting neodymium's close association with praseodymium. Pure neodymium metal was isolated in 1925 by H. Kremers

Harmful effects: Neodymium is considered to be moderately toxic. Characteristics: Neodymium is a soft, bright, silvery white metal. It is one of the lanthanide rare earth metals. It forms a flaky oxide coating in air. Unlike many metal oxide layers, this one does not protect the metal from further oxidation. Neodymium has two allotropic forms, transforming from hexagonal to body-centered cubic above 800K (527 oC). Neodymium usually exists as a trivalent ion, Nd3+, in its compounds. Most of its salts are pale purple in color.

Uses of Neodymium
Neodymium is used with [|iron] and [|boron] to create powerful permanent magnets, also called NIB magnets. NIB magnets are used in computers, cell phones, medical equipment, toys, motors, wind turbines and audio systems. (3) Neodymium is used as a crystal (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet) in lasers. These ND:YAG lasers have numerous applications. For example, they are used in medicine to treat skin cancers and for laser hair removal; and in industry they are used to cut and weld steel. Neodymium is used to make specialized goggles for glass blowers. The metal is also used in a spark producing alloy (misch metal) for cigarette lighter flints. Neodymium salts are used to color glasses and enamels. 214
 * component of didymium used for colouring glass to make welder's goggles
 * colours glass delicate shades ranging from pure violet through wine-red and warm gray. Light transmitted through such glass shows unusually sharp absorption bands. The glass is used in astronomical work to produce sharp bands by which spectral lines may be calibrated. Glass containing neodymium is a laser material in place of ruby to produce coherent light
 * salts are used as a colourant for enamels
 * alloys
 * used in astronomy to calibrate spectral lines
 * lasers (to produce coherent light)
 * neodymium is used in very powerful

Physical properties
Neodymium, a [|rare earth] [|metal], was present in the classical [|mischmetal] at a concentration of about 18%. Metallic neodymium has a bright, silvery metallic luster, but as one of the more reactive [|lanthanide] rare-earth metals, it quickly oxidizes in ordinary air. The oxide layer that forms then peels off, and this exposes the metal to further oxidation. Thus a centimeter-sized sample of neodymium completely oxidizes within a year. [|[4]] Neodymium exists in two [|allotropic] forms, with a transformation from a double hexagonal to a [|body-centered cubic] structure taking place at about 863 °C. [|[5]]

Chemical properties
Neodymium metal tarnishes slowly in air and it burns readily at about 150 °C to form [|neodymium(III) oxide] : 4 Nd + 3 O2 → 2 Nd2O3 Neodymium is a quite electropositive element, and it reacts slowly with cold water, but quite quickly with hot water to form [|neodymium hydroxide] : 2 Nd (s) + 6 H2O (l) → 2 Nd(OH)3 (aq) + 3 H2 (g) Neodymium metal reacts enthusiastically with all the [|halogens] : 2 Nd (s) + 3 F2 (g) → 2 NdF3 (s) [a violet substance]2 Nd (s) + 3 Cl2 (g) → 2 NdCl3 (s) [a mauve substance]2 Nd (s) + 3 Br2 (g) → 2 NdBr3 (s) [a violet substance]2 Nd (s) + 3 I2 (g) → 2 NdI3 (s) [a green substance] Neodymium dissolves readily in dilute [|sulfuric acid] to form solutions that contain the lilac Nd(III) ion. These exist as a [Nd(OH2)9]3+complexes: [|[6]] 2 Nd (s) + 3 H2SO4 (aq) → 2 Nd3+ (aq) + 3 SO 2− 4 (aq) + 3 H2 (g)

Compounds
See also Category: [|Neodymium compounds] Neodymium compounds include
 * halides: neodymium(III) fluoride – NdF3; neodymium(III) chloride – NdCl3; neodymium(III) bromide – NdBr3; neodymium(III) iodide – NdI3
 * oxides: [|neodymium(III) oxide] – Nd2O3
 * sulfides: neodymium(II) sulfide – NdS, neodymium(III) sulfide – Nd2S3
 * nitrides: neodymium(III) nitride – NdN
 * hydroxide: [|neodymium(III) hydroxide] – Nd(OH)3
 * phosphide: neodymium phosphide – NdP
 * carbide: neodymium(III) carbide – Nd4C3
 * nitrate: neodymium(III) nitrate – Nd(NO3)3
 * sulfate: neodymium(III) sulfate – Nd2(SO4)3

Isotopes
Naturally occurring neodymium is a mixture of five stable [|isotopes], 142Nd, 143Nd, 145Nd, 146Nd and 148Nd, with 142Nd being the most abundant (27.2% of the [|natural abundance] ), and two [|radioisotopes] , 144Nd and 150Nd. In all, 31 radioisotopes of neodymium have been detected as of 2010, with the most stable radioisotopes being the naturally occurring ones: 144Nd ( [|alpha decay] with a [|half-life] (T½) of 2.29×1015 years) and 150Nd ( [|double beta decay], T½ = 7×1018 years, approximately). All of the remaining [|radioactive] isotopes have half-lives that are shorter than eleven days, and the majority of these have half-lives that are shorter than 70 seconds. Neodymium also has 13 known [|meta states], with the most stable one being 139//m//Nd (T½ = 5.5 hours), 135//m//Nd (T½ = 5.5 minutes) and 133//m//1Nd (T½ ~ 70 seconds). The primary [|decay modes] before the most abundant stable isotope, 142Nd, are [|electron capture] and [|positron decay], and the primary mode after is [|beta minus decay]. The primary [|decay products] before 142Nd are element Pr ( [|praseodymium] ) isotopes and the primary products after are element Pm ( [|promethium] ) isotopes.