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