didymium

American  

[dahy-dim-ee-uhm, dih-] / daɪˈdɪm i əm, dɪ- /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a mixture of neodymium and praseodymium, formerly thought to be an element. Di

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didymium British  

/ daɪˈdɪmɪəm, dɪ- /

noun

1. a mixture of the metallic rare earths neodymium and praseodymium, once thought to be an element

2. a mixture of rare earths and their oxides used in colouring glass

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Etymology

Origin of didymium

< New Latin < Greek dídym ( os ) twin ( see didymous) + -ium; so named by Swedish chemist Carl Mosander (1797–1858), who discovered it in 1843, from its close association with lanthanum

Example Sentences

It occurs in certain rare minerals, as cerite, gadolinite, orthite, etc., and was so named from the difficulty of separating it from cerium, didymium, and other rare elements with which it is usually associated.

From The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary Section I, J, K, and L by Project Gutenberg

On treating with oxalic acid, cerium, lanthanum, and didymium are precipitated as oxalates, which on ignition are converted into oxides.

From A Text-book of Assaying: For the Use of Those Connected with Mines. by Beringer, Cornelius

One specimen is a didymium indeed, but, as it appears, D. proximum Berk., already described.

From The North American Slime-Moulds A Descriptive List of All Species of Myxomycetes Hitherto Reported from the Continent of North America, with Notes on Some Extra-Limital Species by MacBride, Thomas H. (Thomas Huston)

The rare metals cerium, lauthanum, and didymium have been lately investigated by Drs. Hillebrand and Norton, in Bunsen's laboratory.

From The Galaxy, Volume 23, No. 2, February, 1877 by Various

Berkeley thought it a didymium, called it D. curtisii.

From The North American Slime-Moulds A Descriptive List of All Species of Myxomycetes Hitherto Reported from the Continent of North America, with Notes on Some Extra-Limital Species by MacBride, Thomas H. (Thomas Huston)