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Formula: Nd
Element, lanthanide, rare earth element
Neodymium is not found free in nature but is found in a number of minerals, mainly
monazite and bastnäsite
(ChC)
Specific gravity: 7.0 at 20oC
Colour: Silvery white
Reaction with air: mild, ⇒ Nd2O3
Reaction with 15M nitric acid: mild, ⇒ Nd(NO3)3
Reaction with 6M hydrochloric acid: mild, ⇒ H2, NdCl3
(ChC)
Melting point: 1016oC
Boiling point: 3070oC
Abundance in the Earth's crust: 33 parts per million by mass, 4.8 parts per million by moles
(ChC).
Abundance in the Solar System: 3 parts per billion by mass, 20 parts per trillion by moles
(ChC).
Neodymium usually exists as a trivalent ion, Nd3+, in its compounds. Most of its salts are pale purple
in colour
(ChC).
Neodymium-bearing minerals include:
Oxides - the oxide anion is O2-
clinofergusonite-(Nd)
Carbonates - the carbonate anion is (CO3)2-
bastnäsite-(Nd)
calcioancylite-(Nd)
kozoite-(Nd)
shabaite-(Nd)
schuilingite-(Nd)
Sulphates - the sulphate anion is (SO4)2-
chinleite-(Nd)
Arsenates - the arsenate anion is (As5+O4)3-
agardite-(Nd)
retzian-(Nd)
Nesosilicates - insular (Si4+O4)4- groups
hingganite-(Nd)
swamboite-(Nd)
Sorososilicates - (Si4+2O7)6- groups
allanite-(Nd)
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