What is Praseodymium?
Praseodymium is a metallic chemical element classified in the rare earths group of the periodic table of elements. It has a number of industrial uses, and some consumers have probably interacted with products which contain praseodymium. Like other rare earth metals, praseodymium is not necessarily rare; the name refers to elements which share chemical properties, rather than their abundance. In nature, praseodymium usually is found in mineral compounds, and it makes up almost 10 parts per million of the Earth’s crust. Pure praseodymium is a soft, silvery metal which is extremely ductile. It is vulnerable to corrosion and tarnish, and forms a characteristic green tarnish when exposed to air. The element is usually stored in mineral oil or in sealed containers to avoid this problem. The element has an atomic number of 59, and it is identified with the symbol Pr on the periodic table. The salts of praseodymium are black, and they may be compounded with an assortment of other materials for
Praseodymium is found in some salts in small amounts. A Little History Praseodymium is one of the rare-earth elements. Austrian Chemist C. F. Auer von Welsbach first discovered Praseodymium in 1885, when he separated salts of the so-called element “didymium” into praseodymium and neodymium. The name praseodymium comes from the Greek word prasios, meaning leak-green. The element received this name because it occurred in the green fraction or part of didymium. Praseodymium is best separated from the other rare-earth elements by ion-exchange process. A Few Facts Praseodymium melts at 935 degrees Celsius (1715 degrees Fahrenheit) and boils at 3127 degrees Celsius (5661 degrees Fahrenheit). Rare-Earths have 3 electrons in the outer shells of their atoms that take part in valence bonding. The rare earth elements are called lanthanides because they follow lanthanum in the periodic chart of elements. The true rare earths are silver-colored metals. In nature, they are always found together in c
