Quick reference
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Nd |
| Atomic number | 60 |
| Atomic weight | 144.242 |
| Group | Lanthanide (rare earth metal) |
| Discovered by | Carl Auer von Welsbach |
| Discovery date | 1885 |
| Name origin | Greek neos (new) + didymos (twin) |
| Density | 7.01 g/cm³ |
| Melting point | 1024 °C |
| Boiling point | About 3074 °C |
| Appearance | Silvery-white metal that quickly tarnishes in air |
The "new twin"
In 1841, Swedish chemist Carl Mosander separated a substance he called didymium ("twin") from other rare earths, believing it was a single element. For more than 40 years, it was listed as one.
In 1885, Austrian chemist Carl Auer von Welsbach repeatedly crystallized didymium salts and discovered it was really two elements. He named them praseodymium ("green twin") and neodymium ("new twin").
Properties
- Neodymium is a soft, silvery metal.
- In air, it quickly forms an oxide coating that flakes off, so it’s usually stored in oil or sealed containers.
- It reacts slowly with cold water and quickly with hot water.
- Its compounds are often pink, purple or lilac.
A rare earth element
Neodymium is one of 17 rare earth elements: the 15 lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium. Despite the name, neodymium isn’t especially rare in Earth’s crust; it’s more common than lead. But it’s spread thinly and mixed with other rare earths, so it’s difficult and expensive to separate.
Neodymium is mainly mined from the minerals monazite and bastnäsite.
Neodymium magnets
Neodymium’s most important use is in neodymium magnets (NdFeB), made of neodymium, iron and boron. They were developed in 1982–1984 by Masato Sagawa in Japan and, independently, by General Motors in the U.S.
They are the strongest permanent magnets available.
| Comparison | Strength |
|---|---|
| Fridge magnet | Weak |
| Ceramic (ferrite) magnet | Moderate |
| Neodymium magnet | Can lift more than 1000 times its own weight |
Where they’re used
| Use | Why |
|---|---|
| Electric vehicle motors | Small, light, powerful motors |
| Wind turbines | Efficient generators, especially offshore |
| Headphones and earbuds | Tiny but powerful speakers |
| Phones | Speakers, vibration motors, cameras |
| Computer hard drives | Move read/write heads precisely |
| MRI machines (some) | Strong magnetic fields |
| Cordless tools | Powerful compact motors |
Because they’re so important for clean energy, neodymium is considered a critical mineral by Canada, the U.S. and the European Union.
Safety
Neodymium magnets are so strong they can pinch skin badly when they snap together, shatter into sharp pieces, and damage electronics and credit cards. Swallowing small magnets is extremely dangerous: two magnets can attract through the intestines and cause serious injury. Keep them away from young children.
Other uses
- Lasers: Nd:YAG lasers are used in surgery, eye treatments, tattoo removal, cutting and welding.
- Glass: neodymium gives glass a purple colour that changes under different lights. Glassblowers’ and welders’ goggles use didymium glass to filter out bright yellow light from hot glass.
- Colouring: ceramics and glazes.
Neodymium and Canada
China produces most of the world’s rare earths. Canada has significant rare earth deposits, such as Nechalacho in the Northwest Territories, and opened its first rare earth processing facility in Saskatoon. Developing Canadian supply chains for critical minerals is a national priority.
Common mistakes
- Thinking rare earth elements are extremely rare. They’re fairly common but hard to separate.
- Thinking neodymium magnets are pure neodymium. They’re an alloy with iron and boron.
Try it yourself
- Find neodymium on the periodic table. Which row and block is it in?
- Use a small neodymium magnet (with an adult) to test which household objects it attracts.
- Research how many neodymium magnets are in an electric car and why.
Quick recap
- Neodymium (Nd, atomic number 60) is a lanthanide rare earth metal.
- It was separated from "didymium" in 1885 by Carl Auer von Welsbach.
- Neodymium–iron–boron magnets are the strongest permanent magnets.
- They’re vital for electric vehicles, wind turbines and electronics.
- Neodymium is a critical mineral for clean energy.