Neodymium (Nd)
Glass containing neodymium can look lavender in daylight but bluish under fluorescent lights.
Neodymium properties
- Atomic mass
- 144.24 u
- Category
- Lanthanide
- Group
- —
- Period
- 6
- Block
- f-block
- State at room temp.
- Solid
- Electronegativity
- 1.14
- Melting point
- 1,297 K (1,023.8 °C)
- Boiling point
- 3,347 K (3,073.8 °C)
- Density
- 7.01 g/cm³
- Atomic radius
- 229 pm
- Ionization energy
- 5.525 eV
- Electron affinity
- —
- Radioactive
- No, has stable isotopes
- Discovered
- 1885
Neodymium electron configuration
- Electron configuration
- [Xe] 4f4 6s2
- Full electron configuration
- 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f4 5s2 5p6 6s2
- Electron shells
- 2 · 8 · 18 · 22 · 8 · 2
The electron configuration of Neodymium (Nd) is [Xe] 4f4 6s2. Its 60 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 8, 18, 22, 8, 2.
Protons, neutrons and electrons in Neodymium
A neutral Neodymium atom has 60 protons and 60 electrons. Most Neodymium atoms have about 84 neutrons: the atomic mass rounded to 144, minus the atomic number 60.
Neutrons are approximate: atoms of the same element can have different numbers of neutrons (isotopes). Atomic number and mass
How many valence electrons does Neodymium have?
2
Neodymium has 2 valence electrons in its outermost shell. As an f-block element, its 4f or 5f electrons can also take part in bonding.
Neodymium orbital diagram
Each box is an orbital that holds up to two electrons with opposite spins (↑↓). The inner shells are the same as the noble gas in brackets. How to write electron configurations
Molar mass of Neodymium
144.24 g/mol
One mole of Neodymium atoms (6.022 × 10²³ atoms) has a mass of 144.24 grams. Use this value to convert between grams and moles.
Neodymium facts
- Glass containing neodymium can look lavender in daylight but bluish under fluorescent lights.
- Neodymium magnets are usually coated with nickel, because the neodymium in them corrodes easily in moist air.
- Neodymium (Nd) has atomic number 60 and is a solid at room temperature. It was discovered in 1885.
Position in the periodic table
Neodymium is element 60, in period 6 of the periodic table. It is one of the Lanthanides in the f-block, shown in the rows below the main table.
Uses of Neodymium
Neodymium is best known for neodymium–iron–boron magnets, the strongest type of permanent magnet in common use. They are found in electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, hard disk drives, headphones, speakers, and the vibration motors in phones. Neodymium-doped crystals form the heart of Nd:YAG lasers, which are used in surgery, eye treatments, and cutting or welding metal.
Who discovered Neodymium?
Austrian chemist Carl Auer von Welsbach discovered neodymium in Vienna in 1885, when he separated didymium into two elements. Its name means 'new twin'.
Where does the name come from?
Neodymium comes from the Greek neos, 'new', and didymos, 'twin', so it means 'new twin'. It was one of two elements that Carl Auer von Welsbach separated in 1885 from didymium, which had been mistaken for a single element.
Lanthanide
Compare Neodymium
FAQ
What is the electron configuration of Neodymium?
The electron configuration of Neodymium (Nd) is [Xe] 4f4 6s2. Its 60 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 8, 18, 22, 8, 2.
How many protons, neutrons and electrons does Neodymium have?
A neutral Neodymium atom has 60 protons and 60 electrons. Most Neodymium atoms have about 84 neutrons: the atomic mass rounded to 144, minus the atomic number 60.
How many valence electrons does Neodymium have?
Neodymium has 2 valence electrons in its outermost shell. As an f-block element, its 4f or 5f electrons can also take part in bonding.
What is the molar mass of Neodymium?
The molar mass of Neodymium is 144.24 g/mol. This is the same number as its atomic mass, 144.24 u.
Is Neodymium a metal?
Yes. Neodymium is a lanthanide, so it is a metal.
Is Neodymium radioactive?
Ordinary Neodymium is not radioactive: it has at least one stable isotope. Like every element, it also has radioactive isotopes, most of them made in laboratories.
Where is Neodymium on the periodic table?
Neodymium is element 60, in period 6 of the periodic table. It is one of the Lanthanides in the f-block, shown in the rows below the main table.