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Praseodymium is a metallic element in the rare earth group with industrial uses. It is not necessarily rare and is found in mineral compounds. It is ductile, vulnerable to corrosion, and forms a green tarnish. It is used to create a strong yellow color in ceramics and glass, in arc lighting, metal alloys, and specialized alloys for aircraft. It is not extremely toxic but can be dangerous to inhale. Its safety has not been clearly established and safety precautions should be noted on commercial products.
Praseodymium is a metallic chemical element classified in the rare earth group of the periodic table of elements. It has numerous industrial uses, and some consumers have likely interacted with products that contain praseodymium. Like other rare earth metals, praseodymium is not necessarily rare; the name refers to elements that share chemical properties, rather than their abundance. In nature, praseodymium is usually found in mineral compounds and makes up nearly 10 parts per million of the earth’s crust.
Pure praseodymium is a soft, silvery metal that is extremely ductile. It is vulnerable to corrosion and tarnishing and forms a distinctive green tarnish when exposed to air. The item is usually stored in mineral oil or in sealed containers to avoid this problem. The element has atomic number 59, and is identified by the symbol Pr on the periodic table. Praseodymium salts are black and can be compounded with an assortment of other materials for various industrial uses.
The element was first isolated and named by Baron Carol Auer von Welsbach in 1885. Welsbach was working with didymium, a metal that Carl Mosander misidentified as a new element in 1841. Welsbach identified two elements, neodymium and praseodymium, when he delved into the details of didymium. He named praseodymium with the Greek roots prasios, for “green”, reflecting the clouding that forms on this element, and didymos, for “twin”.
The element is often used to create a strong yellow color in ceramics and glass. Praseodymium is also used in arc lighting and metal alloys such as misch metal, a compound used in the manufacture of lighters. Praseodymium also appears in the strong specialized alloys used to make aircraft and to turn cubic zirconium a yellow-green color. Some scientists have also used the element in laboratory experiments, and in some cases it is used in magnets instead of neodymium, which can be more expensive.
This element does not appear to be extremely toxic, although it does contain some radioactive isotopes. It can also be dangerous to inhale praseodymium dust or fumes while working, as is the case with any metal. Ingestion of this element should probably be avoided, as its safety has not been clearly established. It is also good general practice to note safety precautions on commercial products, as praseodymium can certainly be bonded to more toxic metals.
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