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Neodymium Element and Its Applications

Neodymium(Nd) is the one of the rare earth metals with atomic number 60. Neodymium is a soft, bright-silvery metal that tarnishes in air meaning it oxidizes in ordinary air. It takes a year for a centimeter-sized neodymium to be completely oxidized. Neodymium slowly reacts with cold water and quickly with hot water to form neodymium hydroxide. In addition, neodymium vigorously reacts with halogens to form neodymium halides and readily dissolves in dilute sulfuric acid to form +3 neodymium ions. Neodymium was discovered by Austrian chemist Carl Auer von Welsbach in Vienna in 1885 by separating it from a material known as didymium. Starting in the 1950s, high purity neodymium, above 99%, was primarily obtained through ion-exchange process from monazite. The neodymium itself could be also obtained by electrolyzing neodymium halide salts. Due to its unstable state in nature, neodymium almost does not exist as pure element. Hence, neodymium is mostly extracted from ores such as monazite and bastnasite. Neodymium is the second abundant rare earth element, contained as 38mg/kg in Earth’s crust, following cerium. The world’s production of neodymium is nearly 7000 ton per year.

Neodymium is used cryocoolers due to its unusually large specific heat capacity
Neodymium is used to promote plant growth because of its similarities to Ca2+and Nd3+
Compounds containing neodymium is frequently used as fertilizer in China
Neodymium magnets are used in microphones, professional loudspeakers, in ear headphones, guitar and bass guitar pick-ups, and computer hard disks where low mass, small volumes or strong magnetic fields are needed
Neodymium magnets are used in electric motors, which are responsible for development of purely electrical model aircraft
Neodymium is used in electric motors of hybrid and electric automobiles, and in electricity generators of some design of commercial wind turbines
Neodymium ion, which exists in small amounts in certain transparent materials, is used in lasers as gain media for infrared wavelengths
Neodymium is used to color glass in delicate shades ranging from pure violent through wine-red and warm gray

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