Neodymium

Element 60 on the periodic table, symbol Nd, group 3, period 6.

Neodymium is a chemical element with symbol Nd and atomic number 60. It is a soft silvery metal that tarnishes in air. Neodymium was discovered in 1885 by the Austrian chemist Carl Auer von Welsbach.

Appearance: silvery white

Properties

Atomic Number: 60
Atomic Mass: 144.2423 u
Group: 3
Period: 6
Block: f-block
Category: Lanthanide
State at 25 °C: Solid
Melting Point: 1,297 K · 1,023.9 °C
Boiling Point: 3,347 K · 3,073.9 °C
Density: 7.01 g/cm³
Atomic Radius: 185 pm
Electronegativity: 1.14
Oxidation States: +3
Abundance in Crust: 41.5 mg/kg
Discovered: 1885
Discovered By: Carl Auer von Welsbach

Electron Configuration

[Xe] 4f4 6s2

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f4

Ionisation Energies (kJ/mol)

1. 533.1
2. 1,040
3. 2,130
4. 3,900

Elements near Neodymium

Elements in the same group share the number of outer electrons and behave in similar ways. Elements in the same period share a shell, so they change steadily from left to right.