Nd	By: Meagan Eigth Grade Mill Valley Middle School	60
	General information History Uses Properties Glossary Bibliography
General Information Atomic Number   60 Atomic Mass 144.24 Atomic Volume 20.6 cm3/mol Protons 60 Electrons 60 Nuetrons 84 Density @ 293k 7.6 g/cm3 Melting Point 1283.2k Boiling Point 3300k # of isotopes 7 Shells 2,8,18,22,8,2 Oxidation States +3 Hardness mohs Group Rare-Earth Metal
Properties Neodymium is a bright silvery metallis luster. It is one of the more reactive rare-earth metals. Neodymium tarnishes quickly in air, so it needs to be kept in mineral oil, or sealed in plastic material. Neodymium has an acute toxic rating. It is radioactive with both air and moisture. As with other rare-earth metals, it should be handled with care. Neodymium is not that expensive, $1/g.	History In 1841, Mosander extracted a new rose-colored oxcide from ceritic, which he thought was a new element. He named in didymium, the inseprable twin brother of lanthanum. In 1885, Austrian amateur mineralogist, Baron CarlAuer Von Welsbach, seperated didymium into two new elements; neodymia and praseodymia. He seperated didymium by repeated fracticnation of ammonium didumium nitrate. Neodymium wasn't in a pure form until 1925.	Uses Neodymium is used for coloring glass that is used in goggles, coloring ceramics and coloring the "artificial ruby" in lasers. When used in coloring welder's goggles, it is the only element that can make the glass a bright violet. The colors can vary from violet to deep red to a warm gray. It is also found in magnets. The magnets are strong enough to respond to the magnetic materials in the printing ink used in paper money. Becuase of this, Neodymium can detect counterfit money. While the freemetal is in Misch metal, it is long known and used as a pyrophroic alloy.
Neodymium, the "new twin" of lanthanum.
Glossary Alloy: A homogeneous mixture or solid of two or more metals, the atoms of one replacing or occpying interstitial positions between the atom of the other. Isotopes: Atoms with the same number of Protons, but with different numbers of neutrons Oxidation: The combination of a substance with oxygen. A reaction in which the atoms in an element lose electrons and the valence of the element is correspondingly increased. Pyrophoric: Spontaneusly igniting in air. Producing sparks by friction.
Bibliography Chemicool Interactive Periodic Table of Elements Periodic Table of Elements Exploring Chemical Elements and their Compounds. David L. Copyright 1992 by Heremon.Tab books, Blue Ridge Summit. pgs. 218-219 A Guide to the Elements. Albert Stwekka. Copyright 1996, Oxford University, New York.pgs. 151-152 images found at: http://www.images.google.com