neodymium

American  

[nee-oh-dim-ee-uhm] / ˌni oʊˈdɪm i əm /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a rare-earth, metallic, trivalent element occurring with cerium and other rare-earth metals, and having rose-colored to violet-colored salts. Nd; 144.24; 60; 6.9 at 20°C.

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neodymium British  

/ ˌniːəʊˈdɪmɪəm /

noun

1. a toxic silvery-white metallic element of the lanthanide series, occurring principally in monazite: used in colouring glass. Symbol: Nd; atomic no: 60; atomic wt: 144.24; valency: 3; relative density: 6.80 and 7.00 (depending on allotrope); melting pt: 1024°C; boiling pt: 3127°C

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neodymium Scientific  

/ nē′ō-dĭm′ē-əm /

1. A shiny, silvery metallic element of the lanthanide series. It is used to make glass for welders' goggles and purple glass for lasers. Atomic number 60; atomic weight 144.24; melting point 1,024°C; boiling point 3,027°C; specific gravity 6.80 or 7.004 (depending on allotropic form); valence 3.

2. See Periodic Table

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Etymology

Origin of neodymium

From New Latin, dating back to 1880–85; see origin at neo-, didymium

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

neodymium

Although the study focused only on neodymium, Hernández Sánchez and his team believe the same ligand scaffold could support similar reactions with most lanthanides and probably actinides as well.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 29, 2026

Between them, they arranged six atoms, including a dioxygen molecule, that connected the two neodymium atoms.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 29, 2026

A typical EV motor uses strong, permanent magnets made from rare earths such as neodymium to spin the rotor and propel the car.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 2, 2026

Light elements, including neodymium and praseodymium, are used for permanent magnets.

From Barron's ● May 6, 2026

Who, then, will be the first to discover a use for indium, germanium, terbium, thulium, lanthanum, neodymium, scandium, samarium and others as unknown to us as tungsten was to our fathers?

From Creative Chemistry Descriptive of Recent Achievements in the Chemical Industries by Edwin E. Slosson