Neodymium is one of the rare earth elements, the elements that are found in Row 6 between Groups 2 and 3 in the periodic table. Neodymium's atomic number is 60, its atomic mass is 144.24, and its chemical symbol is Nd.

Properties

Neodymium is a soft, malleable metal that can be cut and shaped fairly easily. It has a melting point of 1,875°F (1,024°C), a boiling point of 5,490°F (3,030°C), and a density of 7.0 grams per cubic centimeter. Neodymium is a somewhat active metal that combines with oxygen at room temperature to form a yellowish coating of neodymium oxide (Nd₂O₃). It also reacts with most acids, with the release of hydrogen.

Occurrence and Extraction

Neodymium is one of the elements that belie the name "rare earth" since its abundance is about 12-24 parts per million in the Earth's crust. That places it about 27th among the chemical elements...