---
title: "Neodymium (Nd) — element 60"
description: "Neodymium is element 60, symbol Nd, atomic weight 144.24. Configuration, properties, uses and neighbours."
url: https://atoneplace.net/element/neodymium/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Neodymium (Nd)

**Neodymium — element 60: Nd**

144.24 u · Lanthanide · period 6

Neodymium magnets, invented independently at General Motors and Sumitomo in 1982, are by a wide margin the strongest permanent magnets ever made — a coin-sized disc can lift several kilograms and can break fingers if two are allowed to snap together. A single large offshore wind turbine can contain over a tonne of magnet alloy. Neodymium glass changes apparent colour with the light source, looking lavender in daylight and pale blue under fluorescent tubes, because its absorption band sits right where the mercury emission lines are.

## Properties

- **Atomic number:** 60
- **Symbol:** Nd
- **Standard atomic weight:** 144.24 u
- **Category:** Lanthanide
- **Period:** 6
- **Block:** f-block
- **Electron configuration:** [Xe] 6s² 4f⁴
- **Electrons per shell:** 2, 8, 18, 22, 8, 2
- **Melting point:** 1,294 K — 1020.9 °C — 1869.5 °F
- **Boiling point:** 3,347 K — 3073.8 °C — 5564.9 °F
- **Density:** 7.01 g/cm³
- **Electronegativity:** 1.14 (Pauling)
- **Oxidation states:** +3
- **Discovered:** 1885 by Carl Auer von Welsbach

## Electron configuration

- **Full:** 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶ 6s² 4f⁴
- **Noble gas shorthand:** [Xe] 6s² 4f⁴
- **Shells:** K: 2 · L: 8 · M: 18 · N: 22 · O: 8 · P: 2

## What it is used for

- Neodymium-iron-boron magnets in headphones, hard drives and wind turbines
- Electric vehicle traction motors
- Nd:YAG lasers for cutting, welding and tattoo removal
- Colouring glass violet and, under fluorescent light, apparently blue
- Cordless tool motors and magnetic separators

## Hazards

- Large neodymium magnets can crush fingers and are lethal if more than one is swallowed

## Neighbours in the table

| Z | Element | Symbol | Mass |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 58 | Cerium | Ce | 140.12 |
| 59 | Praseodymium | Pr | 140.91 |
| 60 | Neodymium ← | Nd | 144.24 |
| 61 | Promethium | Pm | [145] |
| 62 | Samarium | Sm | 150.36 |

## Common questions

### What is the atomic number of neodymium?

60. That is the number of protons in its nucleus, which is what defines the element.

### What is the symbol for neodymium?

Nd.

### What is the electron configuration of neodymium?

1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶ 6s² 4f⁴, or [Xe] 6s² 4f⁴ in noble-gas shorthand.

### What is the melting point of neodymium?

1,294 K — 1020.9 °C — 1869.5 °F

## Related pages

- [Cerium (Ce)](https://atoneplace.net/element/cerium/)
- [Praseodymium (Pr)](https://atoneplace.net/element/praseodymium/)
- [Promethium (Pm)](https://atoneplace.net/element/promethium/)
- [Samarium (Sm)](https://atoneplace.net/element/samarium/)

## Sources

- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place (/about/)