Neodymium Research Paper

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. It is present in significant quantities in the ore minerals monazite and bastnäsite. Neodymium is not found naturally in metallic form or unmixed with other lanthanides, and it is usually refined for general use. Although neodymium is classed as a "rare earth", it is a fairly common element, no rarer than cobalt, nickel, and copper, and is widely distributed in the Earth's crust.[3] Most of the world's neodymium is mined in China.

Neodymium compounds were first commercially used as glass dyes in 1927, and they remain a popular additive in glasses.

This laser usually emits infrared at a wavelength of about 1064 nanometers. The Nd:YAG laser is one of the most commonly used solid-state

These exist as a [Nd(OH2)9]3+ complexes:[8]

2 Nd (s) + 3 H2SO4 (aq) → 2 Nd3+ (aq) + 3 SO2−
4 (aq) + 3 H2 (g)
Compounds[edit]
See also: Category:Neodymium compounds.
Neodymium compounds include

halides: neodymium(III) fluoride (NdF3); neodymium(III) chloride (NdCl3); neodymium(III) bromide (NdBr3); neodymium(III) iodide (NdI3) oxides: neodymium(III) oxide (Nd2O3) sulfides: neodymium(II) sulfide (NdS), neodymium(III) sulfide (Nd2S3) nitrides: neodymium(III) nitride (NdN) hydroxide: neodymium(III) hydroxide (Nd(OH)3) phosphide: neodymium phosphide (NdP) carbide: neodymium carbide (NdC2) nitrate: neodymium(III) nitrate (Nd(NO3)3) sulfate: neodymium(III) sulfate (Nd2(SO4)3)

Neodymium(III)-sulfate
Some neodymium compounds have colors which vary based upon the type of lighting.

Neodymium compounds in fluorescent tube light—from left to right, the sulfate, nitrate, and