Praseodymium
👓 In Your World
Praseodymium is a lanthanide metal that gives glass a distinctive yellow-green color. This "didymium glass" is used to make welder's and glassblower's goggles because it effectively blocks the yellow light and infrared radiation from hot glass. Praseodymium is also a key component, along with neodymium, in some of the world's strongest high-power magnets. These magnets are used in electric motors and wind turbines.
📖 The Discovery Story
Praseodymium has a "twin" discovery story. For years, it was believed to be part of a single element called didymium. In 1885, Austrian chemist Carl Auer von Welsbach successfully separated didymium into two new elements: praseodymium and neodymium. He named praseodymium from the Greek words prasios didymos, meaning "green twin," because of the green color of its salt and its close relationship with neodymium.
📊 Properties at a Glance
| Phase at STP | Solid |
| Melting Point | 931 °C / 1708 °F |
| Boiling Point | 3520 °C / 6368 °F |
| Electron Configuration | [Xe] 4f³6s² |
| Abundance in Earth's Crust | 0.00092% |
⚠️ Safety & Handling
Like other lanthanides, praseodymium metal is reactive and will develop a green oxide coating in air. It has a low to moderate level of toxicity, and its compounds should be handled with care as their long-term effects are not fully studied.