All practice pages/Interatomic theory/Elements
Element 59, a lanthanide
The green twin, split from its sister element in 1885, now found in strong magnets and glassblowers' goggles.
Period 6, in the lanthanide row set below the main table. The other lanthanides are tinted, and every cell opens its own article.
Like the other lanthanides, it gives up three electrons to form the Pr³⁺ ion in most of its compounds.
Found with the other light rare earths in bastnäsite and monazite, mostly mined in China.
In 1841 Carl Gustaf Mosander thought he had found an element he called didymium, twin. In 1885 Carl Auer von Welsbach showed it was really two elements and named them praseodymium, green twin, and neodymium, new twin.
Mixed with neodymium in powerful magnets for motors and wind turbines, alloyed with magnesium for aircraft engines, and added to glass and enamels for a yellow-green color. Didymium glass, containing praseodymium and neodymium, protects the eyes of glassblowers by filtering out the yellow glare of hot sodium.