Praseodymium: meaning, definitions and examples
🧪
praseodymium
[ prā-zē-ə-ˌdī-mē-əm ]
chemical element
Praseodymium is a chemical element with the symbol Pr and atomic number 59. It is a soft, silvery-white, malleable and ductile metal that belongs to the lanthanide series of the periodic table. Praseodymium is known for its role in various alloys, especially with magnesium, as it enhances the strength and corrosion resistance of the alloy. It is typically found in nature combined with other lanthanides and is primarily extracted from minerals such as monazite and bastnäsite. This element is used in high-strength alloys and in the production of certain types of glass and ceramics.
Examples of usage
- Praseodymium is often used in making high-performance magnets.
- The alloy containing praseodymium is used in jet engines.
- Praseodymium compounds are important in certain types of glass.
- You can find praseodymium in some lighting technologies.
Translations
Translations of the word "praseodymium" in other languages:
🇵🇹 praseodímio
🇮🇳 प्रासेओडिमियम
🇩🇪 Praseodym
🇮🇩 praseodimium
🇺🇦 празеодим
🇵🇱 prazodym
🇯🇵 プラセオジウム
🇫🇷 praséodyme
🇪🇸 praseodimio
🇹🇷 praseodim
🇰🇷 프라세오디뮴
🇸🇦 براسيوديميوم
🇨🇿 praseodym
🇸🇰 praseodym
🇨🇳 铈
🇸🇮 praseodim
🇮🇸 praseódím
🇰🇿 празеодим
🇬🇪 პრაზიოდიიუმი
🇦🇿 praseodimium
🇲🇽 praseodimio
Etymology
The name praseodymium is derived from the Greek words 'prasios' meaning 'green', and 'didymos' meaning 'twin'. This reflects the element’s discovery history; it was identified in 1885 by the Austrian chemist Carl Auer von Welsbach. Auer discovered praseodymium when he isolated it from a mixture of other lanthanides, primarily from a mineral called neodymium, which is where the 'didymos' part of the name comes from. The use of praseodymium in various applications, such as in rare-earth magnets and coloring agents, became well-established in the 20th century as the demand for these materials increased in industries like electronics and aerospace. Praseodymium is relatively abundant compared to many other rare-earth metals, making it more accessible for various technological uses.