60144.24NdNeodymium
Neodymium (Nd) — element 60lanthanide · period 6
Neodymium is a chemical element with the symbol Nd and atomic number 60. It is a lanthanide in period 6 of the periodic table (the f-block), with a standard atomic mass of 144.24 u. At room temperature (25 °C) neodymium is a solid.
💡 Known for: Neodymium magnets are the strongest permanent magnets, used in electric motors, wind turbines and headphones.
# Neodymium properties
| Symbol | Nd |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 60 |
| Atomic mass | 144.24 u |
| Category | lanthanide |
| Group | — (f-block, no group number) |
| Period | 6 |
| Block | f-block |
| Electron configuration | [Xe] 4f⁴ 6s² |
| Full configuration | 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f⁴ 5s² 5p⁶ 6s² |
| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 18, 22, 8, 2 |
| Protons / electrons | 60 / 60 |
| State at 25 °C | solid |
| Melting point | 1297 K (1023.9 °C, 1874.9 °F) |
| Boiling point | 3347 K (3073.8 °C, 5564.9 °F) |
| Density | 7.008 g/cm³ |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 1.14 |
| First ionization energy | 5.525 eV |
| Atomic radius | 206 pm |
| Discovered | 1885 |
# Electron configuration of neodymium
The electron configuration of neodymium is [Xe] 4f⁴ 6s², written out in full as 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f⁴ 5s² 5p⁶ 6s². Its 60 electrons fill 6 shells as 2, 8, 18, 22, 8, 2, so the outermost shell holds 2 electrons.
# Related elements
PrPraseodymiumprevious elementPmPromethiumnext elementLaLanthanumlanthanideCeCeriumlanthanideSmSamariumlanthanideEuEuropiumlanthanideGdGadoliniumlanthanideTbTerbiumlanthanideDyDysprosiumlanthanideHoHolmiumlanthanide
# Neodymium FAQ
What is the atomic number of neodymium?
The atomic number of neodymium is 60: every neodymium atom has 60 protons in its nucleus. Its symbol is Nd.
What is the atomic mass of neodymium?
The standard atomic mass of neodymium is 144.24 u.
What is the electron configuration of neodymium?
Neodymium's electron configuration is [Xe] 4f⁴ 6s² (1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f⁴ 5s² 5p⁶ 6s²), with 2, 8, 18, 22, 8, 2 electrons per shell.
Is neodymium a metal?
Yes. Neodymium is a lanthanide, one of the metals.
What is the melting point of neodymium?
Neodymium melts at 1297 K (1023.9 °C, 1874.9 °F) and boils at 3347 K (3073.8 °C, 5564.9 °F).
What is neodymium used for / known for?
Neodymium magnets are the strongest permanent magnets, used in electric motors, wind turbines and headphones.