Lanthanides
Neodymium
The element behind the strongest permanent magnets.
Atomic #60Mass144.24Blockf-blockPeriod6Group—
Nd60 · 144.24
3D Atom Explorer
Inside the Neodymium atom
Switch between Bohr and Quantum Cloud modes to compare a simple teaching model with a more realistic probability-based view, and follow the guided tour to explore the Neodymium atom step by step.
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Electron configuration
[Xe] 4f4 6s2
A neutral Neodymium atom has 60 electrons (equal to its proton count). Choosing a different isotope above changes only the neutron count.
Shell distribution
Shell 12 e⁻Shell 28 e⁻Shell 318 e⁻Shell 422 e⁻Shell 58 e⁻Shell 62 e⁻
Electrons fill inner shells before outer ones; the outermost (valence) shell drives the element's chemistry.
Properties
Physical & atomic properties
- State (room temp)
- Solid
- Melting point
- 1297 K (1024 °C)
- Boiling point
- 3347 K (3074 °C)
- Density
- 7.007 g/cm³
- Electronegativity
- 1.14 Pauling
- Atomic radius
- 185 pm
- 1st ionization energy
- 533 kJ/mol
- Category
- Lanthanides
History
Discovery & naming
- Discovered
- 1885
- Discovered by
- Carl Auer von Welsbach
- Origin of name
- Greek 'neos didymos', meaning new twin.
Notable uses
The strongest permanent magnets, and lasers.
Cosmic origin
Where Neodymium comes from
Stellar fusion and dying stars
Mostly slow neutron capture, with a real r-process contribution as well.
Simplified origin map — many elements form through more than one astrophysical pathway.
Summary
- Atomic number
- 60
- Atomic mass
- 144.24
- Category
- Lanthanides
- Group · Period
- — · 6
- Block
- f-block
- Shells
- 2 · 8 · 18 · 22 · 8 · 2